Some back ground on the problem:
I had a 2-surface composite filling in a lower right tooth (third from the back if you include my now-removed wisdom tooth) some time ago, and had a problem biting on it as it was extremely pressure sensitive and caused an unpleasant shooting 'nerve'-type pain, and even on biting my teeth together. I had it 'filed' down a bit which got rid of the issue with biting my teeth together, but still could not eat on it.
The dentist removed the 'middle' of the filling and put in a temporary one, which I kept for around 3 months, to see if this relieved the problem. It didn't, so I opted to go ahead with root canal on the tooth.
After the first part, it was great, I was able to eat on it again after the tenderness wore off. Then after the second part I was able to eat on it but with some persistent pain/tenderness. About 3 weeks after having the second part, however, I bit down on a piece of gum and it felt like the tooth and the side of my face exploded, it was agony. The pain wouldn't go away for hours, in my tooth, my jaw, gum, face, and ear.
I saw the dentist
again and she suggested it could be a crack if the pain occurred when I released my bite -but it's not- but that it would be odd for this to cause pain out-with the tooth (my face etc) so suggested it could have become infected after I'd had the root treatment. I took a 5 day course of Metronidazole which did absolutely nothing.
Which brings me up to date. I saw her again today (she's probably sick of my face) and she prescribed 5 days of Amoxicillin. If that doesn't clear it up she's says I can either 1- see a specialist at the dental hospital, or 2- remove the tooth (which might be what the specialist says anyway). I would love to not have the tooth taken out, because I am, already missing my wisdom tooth and another at that side that I had removed for a brace when I was younger. I'm only 22 so the thought of having a denture
already isn't great either.
I don't know if its relevant but just now I have (as far as I can tell by sight) 'part' of the first filling (towards the back side of the tooth) and the new temporary one, and they seem to sit very low in the tooth- I'm not sure if that is at all relevant.
I'm just hoping that someone can give me
any suggestion as to what might be wrong! I'm in the process of studying for my university finals and I could really live without the pain.
Thank you
profusely in advance for any help available.