For wondering if I really need a filling? Any dentists around??

[OverRadar]

I’m mid 40’s and never had a filling. My teeth are perfect and I’m very lucky I know.

Today I had a routine X-ray and the dentist said I need a filling. I was completely shocked! I have no symptoms at all. He prodded and poked the tooth and it didn’t hurt.

He said I need the filling and if I don’t, I risk ending up having a root canal.

I’ve since spoken to a couple of people who think it is ridiculous to have a filling when you are symptom free. However I’m completely inexperienced in this field.

maybe I should get a second opinion?

Uploaded my X-ray for detail

Ex dental nurse here. I would say you do. You can see the dark area where the arrow is pointing, that's the decay. The dark area right in the middle is where the root nerves are. If the decay spreads to that, you will need a root filling

Dentist here. You certainly need a filling in that premolar and the decay is already quite extensive. Leaving it untreated you risk excruciating pain in which case you will be needing either RCT or extraction.

I’ve since spoken to a couple of people who think it is ridiculous to have a filling when you are symptom free. However I’m completely inexperienced in this field.

Not a dentist, but I do have quite a few fillings. You do have symptoms - you may not have pain (yet) but you do have decay that's visible on the x-ray. Much better to get it sorted now before it gets worse. Root canal is one of the worst ways to part with a huge amount of money!

That’s very deep decay in that it is very close to the nerve.

I hadn't been to the dentist for a few years as my teeth looked perfect and had no bother. Last week I suddenly woke up in the most intense pain ever affecting half of my face, jaws and all teeth. It was incredible and came from nowhere.

Went to dentist and X-ray showed a molar was completely ruined and another severely damaged. One extracted on the spot and another temporarily fixed but will probably be lost as well.

If I'd been for a check up this would have been picked up and my teeth would have been saved.

Listen to the dentist.

The point of the filling is to stop the decay spreading deeper into the tooth!

Ok, I hear you all loud and clear. I’ll have the filling. Thank you.

😫

just checking, the premolar is the one with the red ring around it? You’ve not seen decay in another one have you? 😣

Thanks for replying.

Yes, premolar is the one that is circled.

Another dentist
Yes you need a large filling in that tooth, they’re a large area of decay. You may well end up needing a root canal and crown or extraction. The decay is close to the pulp.

Yes I’m afraid you do need a filling OP, sooner rather than later. Sometimes you don’t experience any pain until there is nerve involvement which is why routine X-rays are so important. I’m a Dental Nurse and patients often decline them because they’re not experiencing any pain, they’re a great way of picking up on problems before they have chance to cause pain. Cavities that appear very small to the naked eye can ‘mushroom’ below the tooth surface and when they reach the nerve the only options are Root Canal Treatment or extraction. Root Fillings can fail and then the only other option is extraction. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news OP but I’d get it sorted as soon as you can.
Also, I’ve lost count of the amount of patients that have come in saying ‘my friend/Mum/neighbour said I didn’t really need a filling because I wasn’t in pain so I didn’t bother’.
All the best OP

Definitely agree re. the root canal treatment! Plus most NHS dentists round here won't actually do them - they'll just extract, as they're so expensive and time consuming the NHS tariff isn't worth it. Close to £1000 and several sessions of an hour or more in the chair for me - worst money spent ever!

I would just warn you this looks like a deep filling and close to the nerve , so even though it is giving you no pain now , it may be sensitive for a while after filling . The dentist will be able to tell you better when they fill it as x rays don't tell the entire story.

We have seen a lot of people needing fillings for the first time in the last couple of years , mostly linked to snacking increasing during lockdown . Make the changes to your diet now that needs to be made ie look at what you eat and drink in between meals as sugar can be found in dried fruit, yogurt, fruit juices , fruit teas, starchy foods not just fizzy pop and sweets/cake/biscuits.

Not a dentist, but just thought that I would add that I have rarely had symptoms before needing a filling. I would have thought that things would have to had progressed pretty far to get symptoms. Only had symptoms for abscesses (which you probably want to try and avoid. 0/10. Would not recommend.)

Another dentist here. To be honest I’d be surprised if you don’t eventually need root canal treatment. The decay is very deep and any filling will sit so close to the nerve that it’s very likely to cause problems. If I saw this X-ray on a patient I would be advising about possible root canal treatment and the fact that a filling has a fairly low chance of being successful. Also, there is a chance the tooth is already dead, hence no pain. Did your dentist take another X-ray to show the tip of the root? This would be useful along with checking if the tooth is alive, usually by testing to see if it can feel cold. If it’s already dead it has gone beyond filling and will need root treatment or extraction.

Ok filling done, dentist happy with the result. No pain still.

So I guess I just wait?

My 10 cents worth, don't ignore it, last year I had a back tooth break in half. I couldn't afford to see a dentist and thought I could live with it. Fast forward to October this year and it startes getting infected. By the time I had the tooth extracted I had a really swollen infected lymph node and was really unwell having to have really strong antibiotics for a week before the extraction. I wish I had sorted the problem sooner it was awful