I had a dental exam and cleaning, and I had plans for teeth whitening two weeks later. My teeth are yellow, and I wanted to whiten them to make me feel better before getting braces. My dentist found a small cavity in a first molar tooth and filled it with composite. I feel a sharp pain in it when I chew. My dentist says the tooth is not cracked and adjusted my bite twice. He also says that sharp pain after a small composite filling is rare but not unheard of. I asked him to redo the filling, and he said that the filling was not the problem. Now he says that he doesn’t want to do teeth whitening due to the sensitivity of my tooth. I want the sharp pain resolved. Now, my dentist thinks I might need a root canal and crown. What is going on? Thanks. Logan from Albany, NY

Logan,

It seems your dentist prefers root canal treatment and a crown for $2000 over replacing your composite filling.

How to Replace a Composite Filling That Causes Sharp Pain

If your dentist agrees to replace a composite filling that causes sharp pain, the steps below can resolve your concerns:

• Remove the existing filling
• Cover the dentin with a glass ionomer base
• Etch the tooth
• Replace the composite filling

If You Need to Switch Dentists

If you need to switch dentists because your current dentist does not cooperate, we recommend getting a second opinion from a skilled cosmetic dentist to redo the filling. Since you want your teeth whitened, look for a dentist who can provide composite fillings and teeth whitening.

Don’t hurry your decision, though. Research a few dentist’s websites for their post-graduate training and credentials in the treatment you need.

Metairie cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune sponsors this post. Read details about how Dr. Delaune strives to provide some of the best dental care in Metairie.