Had a small cavity in #15, the dentist dug out the old amalgam (not too large
and no cracks, according to him) and the tooth was filled with resin. No
symptoms prior to this procedure. Severe pain/cold sensitivity for 5 days, he
saw nothing on x-ray, said it surprised him since he wasn't working near the
nerve, but he decided to redo the resin filling. Still extremely painful for
days after - but since has started to subside (it's now been a week), where I
can actually go for some hours at a time with no pain. Since it seems to be
getting better slowly, should I wait it out? Or does pain/cold sensitivity a
week out mean that it isn't going to get better and that I must go the root
canal route?

Thanks for any feedback.

Had a small cavity in #15, the dentist dug out the old amalgam (not too
large and no cracks, according to him) and the tooth was filled with
resin. No symptoms prior to this procedure. Severe pain/cold sensitivity
for 5 days,
he saw nothing on x-ray, said it surprised him since he wasn't working
near the nerve, but he decided to redo the resin filling. Still extremely
painful for days after - but since has started to subside (it's now been a
week),
where I can actually go for some hours at a time with no pain. Since it
seems to be getting better slowly, should I wait it out? Or does pain/cold
sensitivity a week out mean that it isn't going to get better and that I
must go the
root canal route?

Depending on the skill of the dentist and your sensitivity to the materials
it can take days, weeks or even months. I had discomfort in many resin
filled teeth for months afterwards. Although "extremely painful" sounds a
bit more concerning.

From what I've read, the materials used in resin fillings are much more
caustic than those used in Amalgam fillings.

Personally, I already had a couple of resin fillings re-replaced with
silver. I will never have another resin filling unless it is right up in
front. Actually, I hope to never have another filling, period.

(I'm not a dentist, but I play one on TV)

Not bustin' your chops Richard, but that's all bull.

Composites should be *less* sensitive than amalgam and not even noticed
after just a day or two.

Very deep restorations and clenchers can be problematic on occasion.

If the dentist that placed your composites was telling you this, it
is a clear indication that he does not know much about the material.

"Dartos" <tuthjockey at (no spam) myturbonet.com> wrote in message
news:1211909230_137272 at (no spam) news.newsville.com...
Not bustin' your chops Richard, but that's all bull.

Composites should be *less* sensitive than amalgam and not even noticed
after just a day or two.

Very deep restorations and clenchers can be problematic on occasion.

If the dentist that placed your composites was telling you this, it
is a clear indication that he does not know much about the material.


What you are telling me goes against what your collegues on this board have
said. That the adhesives used in resin fillings are caustic and often cause
discomfort especially if the practitioner has not been meticulous about it.

Also, more than one dentist has told me that composites last much less time
than silver fillings. Considering that the main reason people get them is
cosmetic, that is not surprising.

Robert wrote:
"Dartos" <tuthjockey at (no spam) myturbonet.com> wrote in message
news:1211909230_137272 at (no spam) news.newsville.com...

The assessment of risk has changed over time. The consensus now is that
the greatest risk of sensitivity is due to incomplete coverage of the
dentin by bonding agent, incomplete evaporation of the solvent, or
inadequate bonding.
Of course, when I was in school there was more evidence than you can shake
a stick at that the treatment of dentin with phosphoric acid (the most
commonly used etchant) caused pulpal cell death and microabscesses. There
was copious microphotographic evidence of this. Somewhere between then
and now, somehow this was all refuted. The proof is (as

The assessment of risk has changed over time. The consensus now is that
the greatest risk of sensitivity is due to incomplete coverage of the
dentin by bonding agent, incomplete evaporation of the solvent, or
inadequate bonding.
Of course, when I was in school there was more evidence than you can shake
a stick at that the treatment of dentin with phosphoric acid (the most
commonly used etchant) caused pulpal cell death and microabscesses. There
was copious microphotographic evidence of this. Somewhere between then
and now, somehow this was all refuted. The proof is (as they say) in the
pudding; I have no doubt that Steve Fawks indeed gets the results he says
he does, and in fact I must say that (although I certainly still use
amalgam) that my incidence of postop sensitivity with resin fillings is
quite low. However, exactly how the phosphoric acid etchant went from
being cytotoxic to being biocompatible--that I really cannot tell you! ;-)

Steve

"Steven Bornfeld" wrote in message
news:Fa-dnYz-68jrPKHVnZ2dnUVZ_tHinZ2d at (no spam) earthlink.com...
Robert wrote:
"Dartos" <tuthjockey at (no spam) myturbonet.com> wrote in message
news:1211909230_137272 at (no spam) news.newsville.com...
The assessment of risk has changed over time. The consensus now is that
the greatest risk of sensitivity is due to incomplete coverage of the
dentin by bonding agent, incomplete evaporation of the solvent, or
inadequate bonding.
Of course, when I was in school there was more evidence than you can shake
a stick at that the treatment of dentin with phosphoric acid (the most
commonly used etchant) caused pulpal cell death and microabscesses. There
was copious microphotographic evidence of this. Somewhere between then
and now, somehow this was all refuted. The proof is (as

Is the phosphoric acid used in the amalgam or composite fillings (or both)?

Anyway, why the great stampede away from silver? Was it mainly for the
cosmetics, or were there other reasons? (Forgetting about the mercury
alarmists.) What about the claims of at least two dentists I know that
silver fillings last longer and leak less?

Snip
The assessment of risk has changed over time. The consensus now is that
the greatest risk of sensitivity is due to incomplete coverage of the
dentin by bonding agent, incomplete evaporation of the solvent, or
inadequate bonding.
Of course, when I was in school there was more evidence than you can shake
a stick at that the treatment of dentin with phosphoric acid (the most
commonly used etchant) caused pulpal cell death and microabscesses. There
was copious microphotographic evidence of this. Somewhere between then
and now, somehow this was all refuted. The proof is (as they say) in the
pudding; I have no doubt that Steve Fawks indeed gets the results he says
he does, and in fact I must say that (although I certainly still use
amalgam) that my incidence of postop sensitivity with resin fillings is
quite low. However, exactly how the phosphoric acid etchant went from
being cytotoxic to being biocompatible--that I really cannot tell you! ;-)

Steve


I believe Hillary Clinton was about to tell us, but stuck her foot in her
mouth with that Robert Kennedy comment.

John

"Dartos" <tuthjockey at (no spam) myturbonet.com> wrote in message
news:1211909230_137272 at (no spam) news.newsville.com...

Came across this article from last year:
http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/abstract/138/6/775

Not night and day, but according to this somewhat better filling longevity
for amalgam.

Had a small cavity in #15, the dentist dug out the old amalgam (not too large
and no cracks, according to him) and the tooth was filled with resin. No
symptoms prior to this procedure. Severe pain/cold sensitivity for 5 days, he
saw nothing on x-ray, said it surprised him since he wasn't working near the
nerve, but he decided to redo the resin filling.  Still extremely painful for
days after - but since has started to subside (it's now been a week), where I
can actually go for some hours at a time with no pain.  Since it seems to be
getting better slowly, should I wait it out? Or does pain/cold sensitivity a
week out mean that it isn't going to get better and that  I must go the root
canal route?

Thanks for any feedback.

Anyway, why the great stampede away from silver? Was it mainly for the
cosmetics, or were there other reasons? (Forgetting about the mercury
alarmists.) What about the claims of at least two dentists I know that
silver fillings last longer and leak less?

On May 27, 6:48 am, indig... at (no spam) help.com wrote:
Had a small cavity in #15, the dentist dug out the old amalgam (not too large
and no cracks, according to him) and the tooth was filled with resin. No
symptoms prior to this procedure. Severe pain/cold sensitivity for 5 days, he
saw nothing on x-ray, said it surprised him since he wasn't working near the
nerve, but he decided to redo the resin filling.  Still extremely painful for
days after - but since has started to subside (it's now been a week), where I
can actually go for some hours at a time with no pain.  Since it seems to be
getting better slowly, should I wait it out? Or does pain/cold sensitivity a
week out mean that it isn't going to get better and that  I must go the root
canal route?

Thanks for any feedback.

Every dentist will have their own view about Amalgam vs Composite.
I'll wait a few weeks or even months before doing anything else. In my
experience.....Post-operative discomfort happen with both amalgam and
resin. It happen more on lower molars than any other teeth. If your
filling is still new......Wait. Many patient will have no symptoms
after 2-3 months, and they don't need root canal. But some do turn
into root canal......