Endodontist advice

Eros

I've had a mild dull ache in my filled molar upper right 7 for three months. Originally very occasionally but now two or three times a day - still very mild.

I've had my dentist check it a couple of times including xrays and various tests and he can find nothing wrong with it.  My concern is the roots may have Pulpitis though my dentist says there is no sign of that. Tooth does not react to cold or hot or pressure.  He thinks it might relate to receding gums but at the moment to 'wait and see'.

My question is would an endodontist with specialist equipment be any more likely to spot the problem at this stage?

Thanks

Toothsmith

A specialist endodontist probably would have access to more specialist diagnostic tests. 

A 3D cone beam x-ray machine can give a much more accurate look at the tooth and surrounding bone than 'ordinary' dental x-rays. They may have access to more accurate pulp testing devices than your general dentist too.

There is still a high possibility nothing definitive would be found though, especially if there is nothing wrong with the tooth!

From your dentist's point of view, I can see why they haven't suggested you going and seeing a specialist. There are many reasons why a tooth can become mildly uncomfortable for a short period of time, and if they suggested going to see a specialist and spending several hundred pounds on diagnostic procedures every time that happened to a patient of theirs - then they would soon be getting a very bad reputation for costing their patients an awful lot of money for every little niggle they went there with!

If something is wrong with the tooth, then it should become more apparent sometime soon. There is also the more likely situation that it will just melt away and disappear. 

I would be guided by the dentist who can see it. If you really feel you need more reassurance though, and the cost of the tests the specialist will do isn't an issue (And your still prepared to be told 'there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with it') - then it's up to you, and I'm sure your dentist would be happy to refer you on for such tests 

Eros

Thanks Toothsmith. I'll continue to 'wait and see'.

Toothsmith

Good idea, but don't be afraid to go back again should something significantly change. 

Toothsmith

Eros said:

Toothsmith - I'm finding even going to a private practice in Edinburgh that trying to get an appointment for something which may be serious may be several weeks wait. Its not just NHS practices which have waits here.

Is that a practice you normally go to regularly? 

Is it purely private, or a private/NHS mixed?

Eros

The practice was a mix private/NHS. It then when totally private. My wife and I found another NHS practice but after 1 year my dentist there went private and moved out of town.  So I moved back to the original practice - not least because I respected the young dentist I had there.  Edinburgh is very affluent and I suspect there is higher usage of private dentists than in many cities - hence the wait!

Eros

Toothsmith an update on my situation.

Though my original post was about the need for a specialist to check Upper Left molars, I actually have other molar issues. My time of life I guess!

My dentist referred me to an Endodontist specialist who did a very thorough check of several problem molars (UL, UR and LR) including percussion, electric, tooth sleuth, cold test. Like my own dentist he didn't find anything of significance.

He did a CT Scan of two molars and an extraction site which didn't reveal anything very significant. He didnt scan the other areas for the present – and gave me his reasons.

Doesnt think its cracking or pulpitis.

Basically, he is very reluctant to do root canal treatment in case he does it and finds that I still have pain. Then have to repeat.

So I am basically still waiting to see how things pan out.