Took a very graphic pic of my molar after getting a temporary filling, so now it looks like someone painted on my tooth with white-out.
:::long story:::
Why do I have a temporary filling?
...Well...
A few years ago, my pediatric doctor gave me sealants to prevent cavities (IRONY ALERT) and that was fine, except that I kept wearing them down on one tooth. So he kept replacing them, but the last time he did it, he placed it wrong, so it leaked and a cavity started undeneath the sealant b/c of that. Then he put a permanent layer to replace the sealant for the last time, BUT he didn't clean out the decay before he put it on, even though it was obvious that it was there.
Fast forward to 3 months ago...I ask my new dentist about the black spot on my tooth under the permanent material. She immediately said it was decay and I would need a very small filling (keep in mind I felt no pain from the cavity). I go to get the filling and she keeps drilling deeper and deeper and deeper b/c the decay had reached down thru all of my dentin (layer between enamel and nerve). Well, it went so deep that when she filled it, it was a very large filling, VERY close to the nerve. After about 3 months of extreme sensitivity to cold after the filling, (even room-temp water was excrutiating) I went in again and my other Dentist said I needed to take out that filling and replace it because the composite filling had irritated and caused my root to swell. So I went again and he drilled away the composite and took an x-ray, which revealed that the filling was now touching the nerve. He filled it with the sedative cement and told me to come back in 3 months. The cement (temp filling) is supposed to cool down my nerve so he can put in a new composite filling.
If it doesn't calm down, I have to get a ROOT CANAL!! I'm only 18 with "excellent oral hygiene" (my dentist's words) and this was my first ever cavity, and I might need a root canal!! How ridiculous is that?
Anyway, I just thought I' share my frustration with you all...The good news is, it already feels a little better and at least it's white! What's the moral of the story? Always double check. If you think there might be something wrong, chances are that there probably is. I really should have stopped my pediatric dentist because I knew that little spot wasn't normal, but I didn't because I trusted him. I'm not saying to be paranoid about whatever your Dentist or doctor says, but you might want to be a little curious.
Sorry for the rant :)
:::UPDATE:::
Yeah, I do have to get a root canal :(
Now my mom is trying to get my pedodontist to pay for the procedure because it will be a grand total of $2400 (with the crown included) and our insurance doesn't cover all of that. Hopefully it won't be too bad, I fear the shot more than the actual procedure but at least afterwards I'll be able to chew on that side and eat ice cream again!
my 18year old daughter ali and me are sitting here going thru your stuff .. she thinks your photographs are mad ... we sat here reading this story and going shit, shit, shit .. excuse the language .. !! ... she changed the colour of her hair today to a reddish brown .. her friend holly, who is an apprentice hairdresser did the colouring .. ali had a similar colour to you this morning .. she just went out again ..
anyway .. hope your tooth gets better without the root canal .. i've had a couple and really they're not that bad .. altho as a dental assistant you would probably have seen your fair share of root canals that ppl thought were the pits .. :)
Funny how they make obvious errors that end up costing us our teeth. My son had to have a root canal/crown at age 18 because a dentist drilled too deep on a cavity that was supposedly very small to begin with. How come they don't pay for their errors? That's what I want to know.
But yeah, great shot of your orafice. :) You do have really nice chompers!
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