Hello!
The problems with the lower tooth 6 began two years ago, when my dentist replaced an old filling with a white one on a completely healthy tooth. Because sensitivity to biting and thermal stimuli did not settle for several months, she opened the tooth and placed medication inside. The medication later fell out, and because I was travelling, the tooth was partly open for one month. This was followed by more medication and then another white filling. The story repeated itself because, due to pain, I still could not chew even softer foods. I should mention that the X-ray showed nothing. The dentist subsequently opened the tooth twice more — partly because of pain and the last time also because of a chipped filling. She always says that the tooth is completely healthy and there is no sign of decay or inflammation. I now have medication in the tooth again. Because we have repeated the procedure so many times, she now suggests removal of the pulp, the nerve.
Could the irritation/sensitivity of the tooth have been caused by drilling too deeply (the procedure was always performed with an injection)? Since I know that removing the pulp "kills" the tooth, I would still like to fight for it and this solution does not convince me at all. Is there any other option for calming an apparently completely healthy tooth? What do you suggest?
Dentist Tomaž Rotar answers:
Dear Sir/Madam!
An X-ray is not always directly correlated with the symptoms produced by the tooth in question. Clinically, regardless of the actual or histological condition of the pulp (nerve), we distinguish only between two clinical pictures: reversible and irreversible pulpitis (reversible and irreversible inflammation of the dental pulp). Signs of an irreversible condition are: marked sensitivity to percussion, spontaneous pain, pain in the area of the root apex, swelling...). With the described clinical picture, the pulp must be removed, i.e. the tooth must undergo root canal treatment. Signs of a reversible condition are: hypersensitivity to temperature changes, changes in osmotic pressure..., but the pain subsides within a few seconds after the stimulus. Different procedures are used in such cases (direct pulp capping, protection of tooth necks...). I am convinced that your therapist will make the correct decision.
Have a nice day!