Dear Sir/Madam!
For the last two years, the dental clinic has been performing root canal treatment on my lower first and second molars, because the previous treatment of these two teeth had been left unfinished (apparently an unprofessional procedure in a private practice). Before the procedures these two teeth did not actually hurt, but the doctor advised treatment as a preventive measure. Cleaning and filling the root canals of these teeth took more than two years. When the doctor finally completed and filled the last tooth as well (the first molar), it hurt considerably when I bit into harder food, and my gum also became inflamed. After another examination and X-ray, he found that the tissue was apparently rejecting the material of the white filling, so on one side he removed it and filled the area with another material. The inflammation subsided, and I now feel pain only when chewing hard food. Later the doctor told me that I have caries very deep down (on the root of the tooth), and because it is so deep, a surgical procedure would supposedly be necessary — removal of part of the gum and then the caries. In addition, because very little of the tooth remains (I previously already had quite a large filling there, and the new one is even larger), the tooth would have to be cut into two parts, each part ground into a point, and then after two months (as he said) the work would be handed over to a prosthodontist.
I would like to know how it is possible that the doctor did not notice the caries before or during the treatment itself (which lasted two years)? Is such a procedure really necessary and what is it called, how long does the entire process take, and will the tooth hurt during the interim period (two months)? Do you think I should seek a second opinion? How much does such a procedure cost at your clinic?
Thank you very much in advance for a prompt answer and advice!