Just want a filling but dentist says no!

[Waytooearly]

Just wondering whether any about with experience in dental stuff.

I go to a private hygienist twice a year because my NHS dentist doesn't do preventative scale and polishes. In December my hygienist pointed to a lower molar and said it looked like I had a cavity. That tooth had been feeling really sensitive on the surface so I booked in to see my NHS dentist.

NHS dentist did an x-ray and showed me a 'shadow' and told me it wasn't a cavity and that we'd just keep an eye on it. She didnt want to drill through healthy enamel if no need.

The pain and sensitivity was just off and on at first, but now it's always painful. I've gone in twice in the past few months, she still thinks it's not a cavity and has given me sensodyne and fluoride gel, which hasn't helped.

I went in this morning because the pain has been so bad it's putting me off eating and drinking. She put a surface filling, like a white sealant, on the surface of the molar, because she didn't see any decay.

It still hurts! I just tried to drink some cold water and... No.

Anyone else have this? What the heck do I do?

I know nothing about dentistry, so no help, but could you possibly see another dentist to get a second opinion?

I can understand her not wanting to drill what may be a healthy tooth, but you're clearly in significant discomfort and this needs to be investigated further.

I do hope you manage to sort it out!

I’d go to a different dentist.

Could be dentine hypersensitivity
Maybe try dabbing a desensitising toothpaste on it each night that may calm it down

Thank you. Really just having a moan!!!

I have been slathering it with desensitising toothpaste for the last few months, and it hasn't helped.

I really like my dentist but yeah I do need a second opinion.

Go to a different dentist - NHS dentist get paid peanuts to do fillings so they won't unless they have to and when they do they are often rushed and using sub-standard composites. However good the dentist is, they are ridiculously restricted.

My NHS dentist gave me a filling about 18 months ago because he couldn't work out what was causing the sensitivity. Fast forward to two weeks ago and I got the worst toothache ever at about 2.30 on a Wednesday afternoon. Messaged boyfriend who is a private dentist (but who I'd been putting off seeing as I don't want to be seen as the girlfriend who uses him for what he can do)as I was desperate and he discovered that when the filling was put in, the drill had nicked some of the pulp in the tooth causing an infection under the filling and around the root. Ended up with a root filling.

However, boyfriend is a very good dentist - so gentle and soft and kind - even the (multiple) injections didn't hurt!!! Went back a week later during surgery hours for the actual filling - he even worked out my mime of "I need a wee" about 45 minutes in

Could you have a cracked tooth?

It could also be severe sensitivity, are you aware of any erosion or toothwear? or potentially gum related?

I would probably see a different dentist, and get another x-ray from a slightly different angle.

If the dentist really can't see any decay, nd there's nothing on the x-ray then there's no point having a filling because it would solve it. It would be pointless. The dentist is right to a certain extent not to drill a tooth that's healthy, however I would probably want a second opinion as there night be something the other dentist has missed