Root Canal after recent filling?

Hi! I wonder if anyone can help?


I had a filling done privately under sedation last November on one of my lower molars. The tooth has been extremely sensitive since (it didn't hurt before the filling!), and I've been told that I need to have a root canal treatment on the tooth. I paid 150 for the sedation and 60 for the white filling.





Basically, the same dental practice want to charge me 500 for the treatment, or 43 if I have a silver filling on the NHS. I'm a student, and saved a lot of my wages just to get the filling done in november, and now my only option seems to be to have the silver filling because it is so expensive.





Is it right to charge me again for the filling I only paid for a short time ago? Should they have known at the time that I wouold need a root canal?





I hope this makes sense! Any help would be really, really great.

Root Canal after recent filling?
it's really hard to say not knowing the exact diagnosis from your dentist. i would explain this to the denstist. ask him for a discount. the worst he could say is no. or seek a second opinion. 500 sounds like a good fee to me though, it's 1000 in my area.
Reply:OK, I am very well-versed in dental issues such as this. Let me tell you what happened: Your cavity was pretty bad when you came in to him - close to the nerves inside your tooth. Your dentist took a chance that a filling would work without irritating the nerves because it is less invasive and cheaper. In other words, he was doing you a favor by trying the cheaper treatment 1st. If it had took, you would have saved yourself the cost of the root canal. Unfortunately, in your case, the filling is irritating your nerves and a root canal is your only option. Bottom line - your dentist was trying to do you a favor. I have had 3 fillings like this - 2 of them took ok with just a filling, but the 3rd one hurt like heck about 2 months after the filling and I had to have a root canal.
Reply:The dentist could tell if you need a root canal based on your xrays. Often, it is in the "gray area" if you need a root canal or not that they would recommend a filing and "watch" how the tooth progress. Some dentist would recommend a root canal right away to be on the safe side, but often, the root canal is an expensive procedure that patients aft to just get a filing for the time being. The problem is that the filing often will hit the nerve and cause issues you are experiencing now that you would have to get a root canal. Not sure why they would even offer silver filing if the nerve is already hurting.





Basically, you are stuck with the payment. It's like going to get a flat tire patch up and later you found its worn out and need to replace it all together. You end up paying for the patch job and the new tire.





Hope that helps.
Reply:Its very odd if the dentist is suggesting Root canal or Silver filling !! They are two diffrnt things and cant be suggested to the same tooth. If it is sensitive it must b close to the vital area of the tooth ( pulp ) and if it was sensitive since you had the filling then it is clear that the dentist has taken a chance in trying to merely fill the tooth. Now is it sensitive or is it paining ? If it is sensitive it can b still just filled and a root canal is not necssry. A protective layer can be put beneath the filling( white/ silver) and then the permanent filling cud b placed. But if ther is pain then a RC is the only option to save the tooth. I dont know what to suggest you as it is a dicey situation and I cn decide only on seeing the Xray. You could take a second opinion though wit the same Xray .