How to deal with dentist?

[Deal Guy]

My dentist did work (cavities) on a couple of teeth near each other 2 month ago. Before he did the work, there was no pain. Since then, my tooth (or possibly both) hurt whenever I eat hot or cold food. I think that 2 months is more then enough time for sensitivity to go away.

What are my options at this point? I did go back a month ago, and they took x-rays and didn't see anything. Can I make him take out the filling and redo it?
His assistant told me that he wont do that for me for free, (since I guess insurance wont pay him). Obviously I feel I have every right to have him do it again, since this only happened after he did the work.

How do I get him to do it? Any reason he wouldn't be obligated to do it for free? Do I call up the insurance company?

Any ideas. Thanks

[zagguru]

My dentist did work (cavities) on a couple of teeth near each other 2 month ago. Before he did the work, there was no pain. Since then, my tooth (or possibly both) hurt whenever I eat hot or cold food. I think that 2 months is more then enough time for sensitivity to go away.

What are my options at this point? I did go back a month ago, and they took x-rays and didn't see anything. Can I make him take out the filling and redo it?
His assistant told me that he wont do that for me for free, (since I guess insurance wont pay him). Obviously I feel I have every right to have him do it again, since this only happened after he did the work.

How do I get him to do it? Any reason he wouldn't be obligated to do it for free? Do I call up the insurance company?

Any ideas. Thanks

Just because you were asymptomatic before he started treatment, doesnt mean the treatment wasnt necessary.
If the filling was deep and you are still feeling hot and cold sensitivity, its likely means you need a root canal. The cavity was likely deep and the dentist probably tried to do a simple filling to save the tooth (which would be the correct move). Get a second opinion from another dentist if you would like.

[Deal Guy]

Is there a possibility that the filling wasn't done correctly, and by doing it again, he will close up/fix the affected spot?

[gubevo18]

Is there a possibility that the filling wasn't done correctly, and by doing it again, he will close up/fix the affected spot?

exact same thing happened to me. Went back to my dentist he polymerized the fillings again (meaning making them hard-sometimes the first time isn't enough) and told me to take two aleves twice a day for five days to calm the nerve. I did that and it helped tremendously. It still didn't go away fully but it's bearable and my dentist said he would take them out and redo them again for free.

I do find my dentist to be very good overall . Been going to him for 15+ years and never had any issues. This is the first time and he's being a real mentsh.

[Definitions]

Isn't @ushdadude a dentist? Maybe he can give some advice

[E R K]

Try Sensodyne

[Deal Guy]

Try Sensodyne

That's good for a few days later. After 2 months, something needs to be fixed.

[Deal Guy]

exact same thing happened to me. Went back to my dentist he polymerized the fillings again (meaning making them hard-sometimes the first time isn't enough) and told me to take two aleves twice a day for five days to calm the nerve. I did that and it helped tremendously. It still didn't go away fully but it's bearable and my dentist said he would take them out and redo them again for free.

I do find my dentist to be very good overall . Been going to him for 15+ years and never had any issues. This is the first time and he's being a real mentsh.

I don't know if this has to do, but for the first few days after he did the filings, there was a bad/strong taste that I felt in my mouth that I've never felt in the past by all other fillings.

Can it be that he didn't harden them enough, and some of it was coming off the first few days?

Also, there is a spot or 2 on the side of my tooth that I feel a sensitivity just by pressing on the spot.

[zagguru]

I don't know if this has to do, but for the first few days after he did the filings, there was a bad/strong taste that I felt in my mouth that I've never felt in the past by all other fillings.

Can it be that he didn't harden them enough, and some of it was coming off the first few days?

Also, there is a spot or 2 on the side of my tooth that I feel a sensitivity just by pressing on the spot.

Its really hard to tell without X-rays. Do you have pain that keeps you up at night? Pain to biting?

[Deal Guy]

Its really hard to tell without X-rays. Do you have pain that keeps you up at night? Pain to biting?

No.
Only some pain when I press on a spot with my finger. But that wouldn't make me complain.
Its the fact that it hurts every time I eat hot or cold that bothers me.

[zagguru]

No.
Only some pain when I press on a spot with my finger. But that wouldn't make me complain.
Its the fact that it hurts every time I eat hot or cold that bothers me.

It would either be that the filling has an open margin, or that the filling was deep enough that it resulted in pulpitis (indication for root canal treatment). I would get it checked out since it has been 3 months.

[Deal Guy]

It would either be that the filling has an open margin, or that the filling was deep enough that it resulted in pulpitis (indication for root canal treatment). I would get it checked out since it has been 3 months.

What is a open margin?
I went back for xrays last month. He pretended not to see anything. Is it something easily visable on a xray?

Of course the easiest thing and cheapest is to say to do a root canal, since you don't have to waste time on a do- over,  and can bill insurance for a root canal.
I just don't think that you should be doing root canal when I'm pretty sure that if he does it over, it will be fixed without any root canals.

How do I make him do it over?

[skyguy918]

What is a open margin?
I went back for xrays last month. He pretended not to see anything. Is it something easily visable on a xray?

Of course the easiest thing and cheapest is to say to do a root canal, since you don't have to waste time on a do- over,  and can bill insurance for a root canal.
I just don't think that you should be doing root canal when I'm pretty sure that if he does it over, it will be fixed without any root canals.

How do I make him do it over?

You can't make him do anything over, certainly not based on your own uncertain opinion. Go get a second opinion, and work from there.

[zagguru]

You can't make him do anything over, certainly not based on your own uncertain opinion. Go get a second opinion, and work from there.

+1

[zagguru]

What is a open margin?
I went back for xrays last month. He pretended not to see anything. Is it something easily visable on a xray?

Of course the easiest thing and cheapest is to say to do a root canal, since you don't have to waste time on a do- over,  and can bill insurance for a root canal.
I just don't think that you should be doing root canal when I'm pretty sure that if he does it over, it will be fixed without any root canals.

How do I make him do it over?

When the filling is not fully sealed. And root canal is not the easiest thing and not always covered by insurance. You will also need a crown afterwards. Which is why dentist will try and do a filling before going that route.

[ushdadude]

Isn't @ushdadude a dentist? Maybe he can give some advice

I am a dentist but I ain't touching this. sorry

[Deal Guy]

When the filling is not fully sealed. And root canal is not the easiest thing and not always covered by insurance. You will also need a crown afterwards. Which is why dentist will try and do a filling before going that route.

If a filling is not fully sealed, can you always see such a minor thing on an xray? I did go back last month, and he claimed not to see anything.
So what would a second opinion do? What more can he possibly see?

I just think a dentist would be a mentsh, and do something over if a patient still complains 2 months later.

[Deal Guy]

What is normal procedure out there when someone experiences these sensitivities after 2 months. Do dentists usually do it over?

[12HRS]

I am a dentist but I ain't touching this. sorry

Spoken like a true lawyer

[ckmk47]

Go to a different dentist.  Someone recommended by a few, if you can find.  Bring your x-rays but he may take his own anyway.


If he thinks it has to be redone, maybe he should do it and you ask for reimbursement from the first dentist, or sue him for it.


I wouldn't get a root canal without getting an opinion from a rootcanal specialist.