Filling put in by hand!!! Now pain :-(

sudzs

Just wondering if this is the done thing, ever...

I was having a huge amalgam filling replaced, (for the second time in a month due the first being a botched job) :rolleyes: Anyway, once the old filling was removed, the dentist started to put in the amalgam mix, with his finger!! Not with the usual implement, whatever it's called, but with his finger! The second bit went in the same way, pushed in with his fingeertip!

So I'm wondering how unusual, or not, this is, I've never come across it before and I have had lot's and lot's of fillings over the years! And always there was a sort of metal implement with a plunger-like action to shove in the material.

3 months after that I started to get an ache in that tooth that lasted for around 3 - 4 days, not too bad but enough to take some ibuprofen. A few weeks later the same thing but to a lesser degree. Just get the odd niggle now, nothing that needs any pain relief.

So 2 questions....

1. Is putting in a filling by hand a bit odd??!!

2. Is it possible that could be anything to do with the thooth ache?


Any input or advice appreciated!

WIZE

Are your nerves dead in that tooth

The reason I ask is that my GF got a filling in a few weeks ago with trapped her nerve and caused her to be in a very bad way

she has since got it fixed

I would have thought they would need to use sterilized tools to this job as you dont want infection trapped in the tooth

sudzs

Thanks for the super quick reply!

I don't think the nerve can be dead in that tooth as I am getting this on and off ache. Though it is becoming less frequent and less achy!

I would have thought they would need to use sterilized tools to this job as you dont want infection trapped in the tooth

He did have gloves on!

georgieporgy

The purpose of an amalgam carrier is to convey a small portion of the mixed amalgam filling material into the small hole that has been prepared in your tooth. Most holes are in parts of the mouth that are difficult to reach so an instrument like this is necessary. But sometimes this is not so, and if the hole is so big that a complete mix could easily fit in and more than one mix was needed the handiest instrument is often the dentist's finger.

What your story tells us is that you had a huge hole in your tooth that now has a huge filling. I wouldn't be surprised to hear you were having pain.

sudzs

Thanks georgieporgy! The finger hadn't bothered me at the time even though I'd never come across that method before! It was just 3 months later and I had toothache that I wondered if maybe it was some terrible thing to do! But your explanation makes perfect sense! Thanks!

And I've had this massive amalgam filling for maybe 15+ years and it never gave a bit of trouble. I suppose in replacing it twice it's just gone a bit closer to the nerve maybe??

Do you think the time frame of 3 months indicates anything in particular?? Is the nerve dying ?

georgieporgy

No, 3 months is not significant. It could be 1 month or 1 year. It's very likely that the nerve is "dying" off, or the tooth may have lots of little cracks which cause pain too.

I think a root canal and three crowns are in your future!

sudzs

I think a root canal and three crowns are in your future!

Thanks Zoltar!!!

BryanL

Sudz,
how many dentists have you seen in the last 18 months? You seem to have lots of problems and always blame it on the dentists"Botched jobs" etc.
Could anything else be contributing to your problems?
Bryan

sudzs

BryanL wrote: »

Sudz,
how many dentists have you seen in the last 18 months? You seem to have lots of problems and always blame it on the dentists"Botched jobs" etc.
Could anything else be contributing to your problems?
Bryan

My problems do tend to be the result of "botched jobs". That's why they give me refunds for crowns that don't fit properly, crowns that had to be adjusted so much that the zirconium becomes visible, fillings finished so badly that they have to be redone by the senior partner at no charge.... or maybe you think I'm just neurotic or self harming or what???

BryanL

sudzs wrote: »

My problems do tend to be the result of "botched jobs". That's why they give me refunds for crowns that don't fit properly, crowns that had to be adjusted so much that the zirconium becomes visible, fillings finished so badly that they have to be redone by the senior partner at no charge.... or maybe you think I'm just neurotic or self harming or what???

Very unlikely to be caused by neurosis or self harming ( although some people do suffer from one or both)

Much more likely that your problems are the result of problems with your bite and/or TMJ dysfunction. Which is being left untreated as you go from dentist to dentist treating the symptoms of your problem but not the cause.

I can't see how you will ever have anything other than problems, if you treat one tooth at a time with different dentists all the time.
Hope that helps,
Bryan

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Sudz its time to see a specialist.....seriously

sudzs

Vienna Creamy Druggist wrote: »

Sudz its time to see a specialist.....seriously

A specialist in what?

My TMJ problem has settled down now with the occasional flair-up but I'm managing it with exercises and haven't had any problems with it now for months. I really don't think there is a problem with my bite now, the TMJ problems all started when I had the first 2 oversized crowns fitted and there was delay in having them adjusted sufficiently for my bite to return to normal. The dentist could not "fit me in"

Anyway, I agree, I should stick to the one dentist and I will now. Was back with the latest one (!) this morning about some gum inflamation around a crown I had fitted there by the most junior member of the team at that practice. She also did the dodgy huge amalgam filling (mentioned in my op) which I had to have redone by the senior dentist there. So am with him now. Anyway, there was some debris stuck under the gum, by the crown causing the inflamation. X-ray showed the root canal is fine and also no sign of problems with the large amalgam filled tooth beside it. And the ache in it has abated so maybe it was just the filling settling in??? It's ok for now anyway!

And yes, my mouth is full of filled teeth and a few missing ones too but had poor dental care as a child and neglected them myself in my 20's. But am doing my best now with flossing, tepe brushes etc...

God, that turned into a long boring post! Sorry!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Stay with the dentist your happy with, but if your mouth is the disaster zone your posts would suggest I think a prosthodontic referral is in order to sort them out in a comprehensive manner rather than this symptomatic stuff that is plaguing your life.

BTW I often put large portions of amalgam in by hand and pack them tight with an instrument after, if quicker for really big fillings.

sudzs

I think a prosthodontic referral is in order

Was actually considering a few implants.... very pricey though, even here in the UK. I might (only might though!) be off to South Africa for several months so maybe check it out there.

Thanks all for the replies and advice!

And BTW, my gum is still inflamed around this crown! :rolleyes: Wonder if I will end up having to get a fourth crown there!!!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Although the standard of dentistry in South Africa is generally good, I would not recommend getting complex work ( implants require several visits over a period of 3-8 months depending) away from home, the aftercare and treatment of complications is not best done long distance. If you think you have trouble with crowns wait till you get chepo implants...the fun will really start....I can recommend a excellent implant guy in Kent if thats any use...

sudzs

Vienna Creamy Druggist wrote: »

Although the standard of dentistry in South Africa is generally good, I would not recommend getting complex work ( implants require several visits over a period of 3-8 months depending) away from home, the aftercare and treatment of complications is not best done long distance. If you think you have trouble with crowns wait till you get chepo implants...the fun will really start....I can recommend a excellent implant guy in Kent if thats any use...

Good advice Vienna Creamy Druggist, thanks - again!

Kent is a bit far for me, I'm in Devon. Everywhere is far from Devon!!!

Might be up north east next year though... know anyone good up there?!

...you can see part of my problem is all this moving around I do! It's the husbands fault!!! :rolleyes: