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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to go to the doctor about my tooth?

34 replies

JaneFonda · 02/12/2011 18:14

Last year, I had a filling in one of my teeth. A few weeks after I had the filling, I was drinking a glass of water and was suddenly in excruciating pain with my tooth. Every time I ate/drank anything on that side of my mouth I couldn't cope with how much it hurt (I am a bit of a wuss too!)

The pain has continued since then, and when I saw my dentist today I mentioned it to him, as I have during every single visit. He didn't do an x ray or anything, he just said it might need filing down. I can't see why, as the tooth doesn't rub against the tooth above it, it doesn't even touch it.

WIBU to go to the doctor about my tooth? I am really in a lot of pain, and I don't think the dentist is really willing to look further into it. Are you allowed to go to the doctor for teeth? I really have no idea, I'm very ready to be told IABU! :)

OP posts:
eurochick · 02/12/2011 18:15

Just go to another dentist. It's a different medical speciality.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/12/2011 18:15

A tooth whose bite is too high can cause a LOT of pain when eating. So it could well just need filed down. Do you have an appointment for this? Bit puzzled as to why dentist didn't do this today.

BartletForAmerica · 02/12/2011 18:16

We definitely don't do teeth. Sounds like you need to see another dentist ASAP as you sound (understandably) miserable.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/12/2011 18:17

or just see your own dentist and let him file the tooth down :)

Original poster
JaneFonda · 02/12/2011 18:18

I'm so scared of how much it's going to cost! :( Do dentists charge a registration fee? I genuinely have no clue, I'm sorry for being so useless!

OP posts:
AnyoneforTurps · 02/12/2011 18:19

As a doctor, I have no dental training at all. There is nothing I could do to help - you need a dentist.

So YANBU to want something done about your tooth but I'm afraid your doctor can't help. Maybe see a different dentist?

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/12/2011 18:20

it won't cost much to file the tooth down.

claig · 02/12/2011 18:21

Sounds like it was also painful when you just had a drink as well.

I think it's worth seeing another dentist. NHS Direct are very helpful and may be able to give some good advice and tell you about NHS dentists in your area.

sleeplessinderbyshire · 02/12/2011 18:22

we don't have any dental training at all as doctors so don't bother wasting their or your time, try another dentist

LydiaWickham · 02/12/2011 18:25

No, dentists don't charge a registration fee, but they normally charge for a new paitent examination, normally about the £50 mark - but that's because they give you a lot longer than the normal check up time slot to do a through first assessment. You can ask about this in advance. A good dentist will give you quote for work that needs doing so you don't have to do it there and then.

BTW - a friend at uni was a dental student. She was slight freaked out that the medical students spent 1 month on the mouth, dental students spent 5 years... Doctors (unless oral specialists - no sniggering) don't know much about teeth. Ask around for a recommendation for another good dentist.

goingtoofast · 02/12/2011 18:25

There won't be a registration fee. Filing a tooth is cheap.
I would ask for an x-ray, I had a filling that was right on top of a nerve - it was agony! The dentist who did it didn't take an x ray before he started as I was pregnant. It was agony from the start. I finally went to another dentist when baby was born, she took an x ray and the filling was on top of a nerve. She was suprised because the filling wasn't deep, the tooth was just shallower than it looked.

Original poster
JaneFonda · 02/12/2011 18:26

Thank you everyone for the advice! I certainly won't bother taking up my doctor's time then, thanks for warning me it would be a waste of resources. :)

What does filing the tooth down actually do? And it is painful?

It's currently really hurting me, so so much at the moment, and I'm not eating/drinking anything...it's just a horrid pain, down to the bottom of my jaw too. :(

OP posts:
goingtoofast · 02/12/2011 18:28

The dentist will just drill a little of the filling away. You shouldn't need any aneasthetic.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/12/2011 18:29

it wont be painful, and it is a simple procedure. A "high" filling can cause all the pain you are having.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/12/2011 18:30

I do work for a dentist and can tell you that his advice sounds absolutely OK, so I would personally ignore people telling you to seek a second opinion.

claig · 02/12/2011 18:34

Here's some stuff about high fillings.
As Fanjo says, your dentist may be right about it.

www.oralanswers.com/2010/04/pain-caused-by-a-high-filling-why-it-happens-and-how-to-fix-it/

jenniec79 · 02/12/2011 18:35

Of course you ABU. You wouldn't go to the greengrocers because you don't like the furniature shop!

You need a dentist for your dental problem. You don't have to see the same one as before, but you do need a dentist

claig · 02/12/2011 18:40

Just out of interest, do walk-in dental units exist anywhere, where patients can get a second opinion.

Walk in medical units exist. I don't know if it is teh same for dentists.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/12/2011 18:40

but you can see the one you saw before as his advice is correct..

Original poster
JaneFonda · 02/12/2011 18:41

I don't think it's a high filling, when I run my tongue over it there is no part of it that is raised... or would I be unable to feel it with my tongue?

My dentist was talking about filing my enamel down, is that a different procedure or the same?

Sorry, I really appreciate all of your advice on this!

OP posts:
claig · 02/12/2011 18:43

Yes, Fanjo. But you know that sometimes it is dificult to communicate with some doctors or dentists. It all depends how good the doctor/dentist is at dealing with people. Sometimes patients can be brushed off and intimidated.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/12/2011 18:43

its the same. The dentist who did the filling should do the procedure.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/12/2011 18:44

but it doesn't sound like this dentist was like that, just that the OP was sceptical of his advice?

ViviPrudolf · 02/12/2011 18:46

I'm no expert I've had a LOT of dental work Sad and I'm not sure this is a filing job. I've had fillings that needed filing but only because they were clashing with other teeth. OP says the tooth isn't rubbing or even touching any other tooth. She keeps mentioning it to him and yet the issue is not resolved. I have had dentists like this. I don't stand for it anymore.

OP I think you really ought to get a second opinion.

I cannot overstate the positive effect on my life since I found an absolutely brilliant dentist.

Original poster
JaneFonda · 02/12/2011 18:47

Fanjo, I was a bit sceptical of his advice, but mainly because the first time I mentioned the pain, and said that it had started after he had done the filling, he seemed quite keen to disassociate the two, if that makes sense? So I did feel quite brushed off, I think.

OP posts: