Dental Advice Required

stattman

Hi,

Firstly I appreciate your time reading this - I would like some help to see how best to approach the situation regarding some events.

Background

1. My original dentist replaced a filling on upper right molar, but soon afterwards the nerves started to necrotise. They performed a root filling but it failed. Leaving me with pain on biting.
2. I went to a provate dentist which over several months tried various things best but there was no further improvement. He suggested the next course of action was to extract and implant.
3. For my own assurance I went to a leading practice in the area (used for implant referrals) and he agreed that the molar was beyond repair and suggested extracttion with some bio material to stimulate bone growth (for a future implant).
4. I was impressed with the practice and proceeded with molar extraction

Present
Since having the molar extracted, the wound has healed well however the rear molar, is sometimes painful when eating. The area is also very sensitive.
On the most recent visit he suggested that the symptoms I descriobe points to a crack, but that the x-rays did not show anything, and that he would need to open up the filling to inspect further.

Thinking back to the time of the extraction, I'm convinced at the time of the extraction that I heard a cracking sound as pressure was applied when pulling out the molar (as its not a small tooth).

My fearis what next? If I'm pessimistic, then it seems that I have ended up
with another tooth which has failed and likely that I will incur both the financial penalty and the health impact of this. At this stage I have not asked why the tooth is like this as I want to see how it progresses. However on leaving the practice he advised that if its a crack it will progressively worsen.

To summarise Ive had some rather bad luck with this side of the mouth, I missed an opportunity to have the original dentist make good on the tooth following the originally root canal, but that is now firmly in the past.

Im not sure whether or not this situation justifies for additional support from the practice following the minor operation I had. Or whether there is a non-liabality clause undertaken (i.e.. patient accepts risks for what we do).

I hope I have explained this well, and I do appreciate any advice or comments on how to make the best of the situation.

Thank you !

Regards
Mark

brook2jack

First things first. A large filling in a tooth means there has been alot of damage and the nerve often dies off not because it has been filled but because of the extensive damage which needed repairing. Root treatment on a molar is not always successful even when done by a specialist with the best equipment. Then the only option is to take the tooth out. Its no ones fault and the only way to prevent it happening is not to need the tooth filling in the first place.


When a tooth is taken out there is always a sound of cracking and crunching as it comes out it is the bone expanding and if the tooth is heavily filled often bits of the tooth cracking. The type of crack you describe is almost always caused by tooth grinding or clenching at night particularly If the tooth is heavily filled. It is a common problem difficult to diagnose because you cant see it on x rays or in the mouth. Normally it is sorted by crowning the tooth. So in other words you have been unlucky but the treatment you have had doesnt appear to be a contributory factor.