Temporary Fillings - More Pain Than Before?

[Noz]

Braved a clean and polish at one of the Cool Smile clinics at the weekend and was told to come back today for a filling replacement. The latter being my main reason for going anyway. I only have the one filling and all I get is occasional pain when chewing in that area of my mouth and it goes away in a short time. It's upper mouth, second large tooth from the back.

So after the filling was removed today it appears that the damage is deeper than first thought and an x-ray showed that apparently I need root canal treatment. Great! One problem - I fly back to the UK tomorrow night for a stay of around 3 weeks. So the solution has been a temporary filling, which the dentist said likely would only last about 2 weeks (he didn't think it would make 3!), so I'd either have to come back to Thailand sooner than planned or seek out treatment in the UK. He told me to use Ibuprofen for any pain meantime.

Some 2 hours later I don't feel much discomfort (and certainly wouldn't have felt any had I stayed at home today), so am now worried about any repercussions on the flight home, which amounts to 24 hour travel time all up. Just after an idea of the discomfort level possible. Is it likely to be worse than before because the permanent filling has been removed? Or should it be OK if I just eat on the other side of my mouth? Are these Thai temporary fillings any less enduring than what you get in Europe, which seem to last 6 months and more? The dentist has put the wind right up me.

Next question is what to do re treatment, which I can now obviously not avoid. Root canal sounds horrific after some googling and I don't think the dentist even mentioned extraction, which I almost think I'd favour. He also said the very rear tooth next door might need some work but not sure to what extent. And as I'm not even registered in the UK, would it even be possible there at such short notice?

Any tips much appreciated.

P.S. The temp filling contains some sort of medicine - can I drink alcohol on the flight home or is that asking for trouble?

[Vital Spark]

I would take it as it comes Noz, apart from them persuading you to have root canal treatment.

Thai dentists seem to be addicted to root canals, and will recommend it for any kind of problem that you have. I don't go to dentists here, as I know the old 'root canal' story will come out. If it's a back tooth, as in your case, I'd rather have it removed than go through the expense and pain that root canal treatment will obviously result in.

You certainly need to be a tad firm with Thai dentists. Mr.VS went to one at the Petcharat Clinic and she was just about to stick a drill into a tooth without giving any anasthetic. I've spoken to many of my Thai colleagues about this and they say that they usually have fillings done without anesthetic .

If it doesn't spoil your smile, and you're quite happy without it, then just get it extracted (paying the extra dosh for a numbed face, of course).

VS

[Noz]

Thanks VS. As I'm clueless about all things dental, it's useful to hear about the local dentists' root canal fetish! I have to say the dentist seemed pretty professional and was quite convincing. It seems a slick operation and the 100 baht x-ray of the offending molar was well explained as was what he had done. Don't recall any mention of options of getting the tooth taken out completely though. Just wish I had mentioned the impending flight before the work got underway and I'd have saved myself all this trouble. For the timebeing anyway. Extraction definitely sounds the way to go. I just don't know if I'm suddenly going to start experiencing permanent pain (which I never had before), now that I have this seemingly very temporary filling. Hope to God the ibuprofen does the job if it starts on the flight to the UK.

Anybody else out there can comment on how long these temporary fillings last? Or any other experiences of root canals in Hua Hin?

[Super Joe]

Extraction definitely sounds the way to go.

Anybody else out there can comment on how long these temporary fillings last? Or any other experiences of root canals in Hua Hin?

My experience Noz is that faced with 2 or 3 root canal visits I opted for extraction of a upper molar (purely for a fear of dentistry point of view) and consider it a big mistake that I wish I hadn't done with hindsight. To be fair the dentist (in a respected Bangkok hospital) did quite strongly advise against extraction, but I thought that maybe that was an 'angle' from an income generating point of view so ignored the advice but seems she was offering genuine advice in my case at least.

Basically in about 3 years since having it out I don't think a crumb of food has been chewed on the right side of my mouth, and that's really not much of an exaggeration, and for last 6 months or so upper and lower molar on chewing side have got more painful, which I can't believe is just coincidental.... and can't ask to find out as I'm still scared of dentist lol. Can't pinpoint the reason, but it is tender when a 'harder' piece of food hits the bald spot, so don't know if it's an automatic reflex thing. I can't count the number of times I've sat there totally focused on eating something on the extracted side only for the food to end up all on my favoured left side before I've realised it's even happened. It's like there's a second delay in my though process

It'd be interesting to hear others experiences with molar extractions from this point of view, VS's experience on it is far more positive than mine which is good to hear.

Good luck,
SJ

[Vital Spark]

SJ: I haven't actually had a tooth removed - so am not talking from experience, but through sheer fear of sitting in a dentist's chair for any length of time. I'm really, really terrified of dentists in any country.

Maybe, after your experience, Noz should go for the root job.

VS

[chopsticks]

Modern dentistry is all about saving teeth wherever possible and there's a good explanation of root canal treatment given on this website :
http://www.colgate.com/app/CP/US/EN/OC/ ... tment.cvsp

I had a root canal filling about 30 years ago with a crown fitted about 5 years later with no problems so far. I remember that at that time it took many visits (done by dental students at a local clinic) but the article in the above link states it can now all be completed in just one visit.

A temporary filling should last for at least several weeks.
Fitting a crown takes a few visits to have the mould taken and for the final manufacture and fitting etc,

[Noz]

The more I read the more confused I get. I'm sure I could live without the chewing ability but the stuff about shifting teeth (apparently the tooth next to the extracted one starts to grow into the space), sounds a but scary. So does the mere process of root canal and the thought of 2 or 3 visits scares me witless. Just wish I knew whether I can expect some pain soon following the removal of the permanent filling and therefore have to make an imminent decision. Hopefully I can seek out a second opinion in the UK and nothing untoward will happen in the next couple of days en-route back there. Starting to feel a dull ache now about 7 hours on.

Edited to say, just saw chopsticks comments, so gives me some heart that I hopefully have a bit of time on my side.

[malcolminthemiddle]

I recently caught up on some much needed dental work here in the Netherlands. One extraction, one root canal plus a crown and one other crown.

The extraction was a back molar that had been lose for quite a while. Different dentists had advised extraction but because there was no pain I decided to leave it. This time I took the advise, the tooth was only going to get looser with an ever increasing chance of infection. The process was quick and painless though not without anxiety.

The root canal was also surprisingly painless, I think the root had died and was necessary because a broken tooth temorarily repaired in Thailand was about to be crowned. The other crown was to replace a temporary crown also placed in Thailand a couple of years back.

It is important to look after our teeth while we are younger for when we are older. My suggestion would be to take the opportunity while in UK to take care of any dental needs you may have.

[Big Boy]

My experience is that the temporary filling should eliminate any pain ie it will do the same job as the original filling. The only difference is that it won't last long. How long it will last is debateable. My last temporary filling lasted 6 weeks with no problem.

If it does drop out during your visit to the UK, most dentists here are private anyway, and will insert another in an emergency appointment quite quickly for a reasonable sum - I don't believe a temporary filling should break the bank.

[PeteC]

Chew on the other side away from the temporary filling at all times and that should make it last longer. If it does go bad and you're not in a place to get it immediately looked at, have some aspirin with you and put one tablet directly on the tooth, clamp down lightly and let it dissolve slowly, don't chew it. That should at least give you a few hours without pain. Repeat as needed.

With a root canal the worst part will be the novocaine injections with the first visit but really, anyone can tolerate those. The root is then killed with this first visit and the second visit you won't even be given a shot, just the dead root chamber cleaned a bit more. Then a temporary crown goes on while the real crown is being made. You'll be given a choice there as to base material i.e. gold, steel etc. Gold the best down to a much less expensive steel base. Given your age, go for the best if you can afford it as a good one will last you about 35 years before the top of the dead root simply gets too weak and one day the whole thing just snaps off. Especially true if your gums recede a bit as you age. Try to keep the tooth, you'll see that a root canal really isn't a big deal. Pete

[PeteC]

.....forgot to mention. With a molar used for chewing they should put a small stainless steel post into the largest root chamber before they crown the tooth. Make sure they do this to give the tooth extra strength. It's usually SOP so you may not even have to ask. Pete

[GLCQuantum]

Like SJ I decided to have an extraction which I have regretted ever since. I have looked into getting an implant to fill that gap but the cost is just too much at the moment. Other options to fill that gap icleded the cheaper 'bridge', but I'm not too keen on having to get used to that being in my mouth.

The time came when I was given the choice again for another tooth that was troubling me and I had no hesitation at all to undergo root canal treatment. Done in Thailand, I found it no more painful that having a filling done.

Save the tooth if you can.

[margaretcarnes]

Noz - a year ago my UK (private) dentist said I would need root canal treatment before too long. He then left the practice. This January I saw his replacement, who said 'no need for root canal at all'.
So as US says I've no doubt Thai dentists try the same con.
If your temporary filling drops out on the way home there is little you can do. Maybe the nerve is dead anyway. Try Pete's aspirin trick and be brave or soak cotton wool in oil of cloves and stick it on the hole. There are emergency dentists in all major UK cities now who would extract if needed. Nothing else. They do what is needed in emergency with no hassle - and maybe no charge either. But you have to rock up and either wait or make an appointment which could be as quick as the next day.
If you have to go to a private UK dentist they won't do a damn thing until you have been through their hoops of check-up etc first. Waiting time for appointments varies of course. You might be lucky. But expect to pay about 80 for a check up, Around 30 or so per Xray (which they WILL do of course) plus hundreds if root canal treatment is needed. Crown wise most private UK dentists use Cerec - a rocket nose cone type material. Around 500 for a crown but very quick and easy using Cad/Cam.

As for how long does a temporary filling last? How long's a piece of string. I've lost 2 temporary crowns in the space of a week! The big issue is whether the cavity was cleaned out properly before the temporary filling went in... if not.... oh dear don't go there!

[Big Boy]

expect to pay about 80 for a check up, Around 30 or so per Xray (which they WILL do of course) plus hundreds if root canal treatment is needed. Crown wise most private UK dentists use Cerec - a rocket nose cone type material. Around 500 for a crown but very quick and easy using Cad/Cam.

Wow! is that the cost of private in the UK? I'm glad I'm NHS

[poosmate]

Best get them all sorted Big Boy before the move to LOS.
The free prescriptions footcare etc will become a memory.
Along with customer care and service.
But its sunny