I replaced a silver filling and now my tooth is sensitive

Q. I had a silver filling on a back tooth replaced with a white composite filling 3 months ago. I have had a lot of sensitivity in that tooth ever since. Sensitive to hot cold and sometimes bite. It doesn’t occur without stimulus and isn’t prolonged. However, it is enough that it bothers me and I dont want to feel it. I use sensodyne which does help, however my other teeth are not particularly sensitive. I have been back to my dentist twice, she has x-rayed it and says sensitivity is normal and not to worry. She also put another ‘layer’ of something on it. I have read a great deal about this subject and dont know what to do next?! change dentist, replace it with a silver filling or onlay? This filling has caused a lot of discomfort and never felt right from the start. Would appreciate your opinion. Thanks Q

A. Hi Q, this is a common problem, sensitivity under a white filling can be caused due to many options :

1: the filling was deep and the nerve has been affected, i don’t personally think this is the issue in your case as the pain in not prolonged in nature.

2: the white filling has been placed in one large instalment, this can cause shrinking of the filling when it is set and causing the tooth to become sensitive due to the pressure of the shrinkage on the tooth tissue.

3:the cavity was not sterilised properly and all the acid which is used to prepare the cavity before the filling has not been removed causing sensitivity into the tooth.

In my opinion the filling should be removed and replaced using the white filling material but the filling done under rubber dam, which is a device that causes the tooth to stay very dry, the cavity properly sterilised, the filling placed in small increments to prevent the shrinkage sensitivity. In my opinion this should solve the problem.

Hope this is helpful, if you require any thing else please do not hesitate to contact me.

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Dr Kailesh Solanki Kissdental – UK Practice of the Year 2007 157 Woodsend Road, Flixton, Manchester, M41 8GN.2 New Street, Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2QS. 13 Stanley Street, Manchester, M8 8SH. Web: www.kissdental.co.uk Tel: 0161 748 5250 View My Profile Dr Solanki

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This entry was posted on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 8:36 amand is filed under Dr Solanki's Answers, Experts Answers, Q. Cosmetic Bonding, Q. General dentistry.