Ouch! How long should I put up with tooth sensitivity?
April 2, 2019 7:07 PM Subscribe
Will it get better on its own or should I just get a referral for an endodontist?
Back in February I had a sealant replaced on one of my upper molars. It required drilling which was fine and I went on my merry way. About a month after the procedure, I started having cold sensitivity and then pain. I went back to the dentist who decided it was a bite problem and reshaped things. Several days later, I still had pain and sensitivity and the filling started to come out. Went back, new filling, still same pain. It's been over two weeks (and another visit) and I still have the sensitivity to hot, cold, and hard things and it doesn't appear to be getting better. Should I give the nerve more time to calm down or is it really telling me that I need a root canal?
Back in February I had a sealant replaced on one of my upper molars. It required drilling which was fine and I went on my merry way. About a month after the procedure, I started having cold sensitivity and then pain. I went back to the dentist who decided it was a bite problem and reshaped things. Several days later, I still had pain and sensitivity and the filling started to come out. Went back, new filling, still same pain. It's been over two weeks (and another visit) and I still have the sensitivity to hot, cold, and hard things and it doesn't appear to be getting better. Should I give the nerve more time to calm down or is it really telling me that I need a root canal?
Best answer: Wow, I’m having deja vu, because this happened to me in the same sequence last year. I’m going to answer your question with a personal story and hope it helps.
My dentist thought the root looked fine, we tried the reshaping and the new filling, and my list of sensitivities just grew. It finally got infected after 6 months of pain, and I still wasn’t sure it was a tooth thing because my xray was still “fine”. One visit to an endodontist, and he immediately saw the problem. I had a quick root canal, back to my dentist for the crown, and I’m done! The tooth can be the tiniest bit sensitive on occasion, but it mostly feels great. I should have done it sooner.
posted by Knowyournuts at 7:29 PM on April 2, 2019
My dentist thought the root looked fine, we tried the reshaping and the new filling, and my list of sensitivities just grew. It finally got infected after 6 months of pain, and I still wasn’t sure it was a tooth thing because my xray was still “fine”. One visit to an endodontist, and he immediately saw the problem. I had a quick root canal, back to my dentist for the crown, and I’m done! The tooth can be the tiniest bit sensitive on occasion, but it mostly feels great. I should have done it sooner.
posted by Knowyournuts at 7:29 PM on April 2, 2019
Always get the referral if you can. I have some non-localized (!?) tooth pain and had the "knocking on the tooth/teeth" by the dentist (as mentioned above) but I'm still concerned I should see a specialist. For teeth it definitely seems to be 'the sooner the better' and 'the more expert the better'.
posted by bquarters at 7:35 PM on April 2, 2019
posted by bquarters at 7:35 PM on April 2, 2019
It might go away? I had a tooth that was sensitive for a full year after getting a filling, but it eventually went away. In my case it was minor sensitivity that didn't prevent me from eating, etc. so waiting wasn't torture.
posted by metasarah at 6:10 AM on April 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by metasarah at 6:10 AM on April 3, 2019 [1 favorite]
Sensitivity can be a sign that work is needed and can also be the tooth settling down. If you generally trust your dentist I would go with their recommendation (including a referral if they suggest one). If you don't trust them, a second opinion might be helpful.
FWIW I had tooth sensitivity for quite a long time after getting a crown on an upper molar (around a year I would guess), but it settled eventually with no work needed. I've also had identical-feeling tooth sensitivity earlier, in the aforementioned tooth, that was a sign that a root canal was needed. So it's not really a thing you can interpret on your own, you really need a dentist to look at it carefully, review the xrays, etc.
posted by randomnity at 8:05 AM on April 3, 2019
FWIW I had tooth sensitivity for quite a long time after getting a crown on an upper molar (around a year I would guess), but it settled eventually with no work needed. I've also had identical-feeling tooth sensitivity earlier, in the aforementioned tooth, that was a sign that a root canal was needed. So it's not really a thing you can interpret on your own, you really need a dentist to look at it carefully, review the xrays, etc.
posted by randomnity at 8:05 AM on April 3, 2019
to not abuse the edit window - if it was me personally, based on my past experience and because your dentist doesn't seem concerned, I would wait a few months before going back as long as the pain doesn't increase or change in concerning ways, unless the pain is already so severe that it's interfering with your life. Sensitive-teeth toothpaste can help a lot in settling it down too.
posted by randomnity at 8:09 AM on April 3, 2019
posted by randomnity at 8:09 AM on April 3, 2019
Based on past experience, go to an endo who has a newfangled high intensity xray machine. That can get a better look at what's going on.
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 8:20 AM on April 3, 2019
posted by yes I said yes I will Yes at 8:20 AM on April 3, 2019
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posted by littlesq at 7:11 PM on April 2, 2019 [1 favorite]