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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed with my dentist?

2 replies

HillyJilly · 13/11/2022 17:21

TLDR Ive had an old filling replaced. It seemed fine before, no pain or problems but now my tooth is really sensitive,it was agony on and off for weeks and at times is still painful!

About 8 months ago I went for a routine check up. Dentist advised that this old filling I had was getting a bit tatty and needed replacing at some point but no rush. Upon paying they booked me in for the filling to be removed and a new one put in, in 6 months time when I were next due to attend.

That appointment was about 5 weeks ago. It seemed fine in the immediate aftermath but about 2 weeks later I was in so much pain, not only in the tooth but my jaw and temple. Horrid throbbing pain. I phoned the doctor who asked me to do certain things, feel certain areas of my mouth and face and established that it was almost certainly down to the filling as my temple Is linked to that part of the jaw where the tooth is. Told me to get back to the dentist ASAP as the filling may be sitting incorrectly on a nerve or they'd done something wrong with it.

Duly booked an appointment but they couldn't see me until more than a week or so after. In the interim period I was taking cocodomol and ibuprofen which annoyed me as I don't like taking painkillers and seldom do, but the constant ache and throbbing in my head and face was unbearable and making me so miserable.

Throughout all of this I couldn't eat on that side of my mouth and hot or cold drinks on it was agonising!

So get to the appointment,the dentist sprayed cold air on it which was excruciating! I said I wasn't expecting that, didn't get a warning and she said 'I didn't expect it to be that sensitive!' I almost jumped out of the chair. She poked about and said she couldn't see anything wrong that could be causing me so much pain. Said she'd grind the filling down a little as maybe I was 'catching ' it (?) She also said I have a bit of gum recession, a normal amount for my age however, and that may be causing sensitivity. Doesnt explain wasn't at all sensitive before this filling though!?

To be fair, it has been better since. No throbbing or jaw pain. However I still cannot eat and drink on it and hot and cold drinks leave me wincing. Im afraid this has caused a real problem and I'll need a root canal or such. It's killing me each time I sip coffee unless I very carefully tip it down the other side of my mouth.

Granted it was an ugly silver '90s filling' before and it probably looks a lot nicer now, but it's a back upper molar so nobody could see it anyway. I wish I'd have never had it done. :( I really hope I don't need more treatment on it, don't know if i trust this dentist now.

OP posts:
YoureSuchADramaLlama · 13/11/2022 18:14

You have my sympathy.
I’ve been in pain 17 weeks so far. I’ve been back 3 times and the dentist is so off with me now. I have no confidence in him anymore but it’s NHS and there are no others near us taking on.

My friend has just changed dentist as she was left in pain by her original one. It’s taken 2 trips and ongoing treatment to finally sort her pain.

Could you afford to book in with another dentist for a second opinion? I can’t, sadly, so I just have to put up with the pain until it becomes so unbearable I have to go back for another visit with my grumpy dentist. It’s my front tooth, I’m terrified I’m going to lose it.

Have you tried changing to a sensitive toothpaste in case the filling has triggered sensitivity?

HillyJilly · 13/11/2022 18:34

That's awful :( especially a front tooth too. I hope it turns out okay for you. I'd be begging and borrowing in order to get to a different one if at all possible, asking people to donate towards it for Xmas perhaps?

I am sure not all dentists are like this. But I just feel they've really done something wrong here with me and certainly seems they have with you/your friend too!
And how dare they be grumpy when they've left you in pain!

I feel slightly humbled by your story but this also makes it sort of worse-the dentist i go to is exclusively private as far as I know and is ££££. I could try get to another one if I do some reasarch for a good one but although I could afford it literally, we're all feeling the pinch and I'd much rather not! She didn't charge me last time I went to get it looked at but because I go to this dentist that's meant to be one of the best in the country (supposedly!) And has a claim of being totally pain free, I go to it despite no longer being local too so its a long journey and petrol costs.
They did give me three sample tubes of sensitive toothpaste but I can't really tell if there's a difference. Ugh. I will NOT be happy if I have to have further treatment so i guess I should get a second opinion. If anything wrong is their fault for doing the filling I don't want to pay for it, but I guess it would be very difficult to prove.

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