Can anyone help restore my confidence in my dentist?

[Misky]

I'm scared of going to the dentist and only go when there's a problem - naughty I know, but - I had toothache and went to the dentist. She took an x-ray and said the root canal filling I had done a few (perhaps six) years ago hadn't filled one of the canals so she would need to take it out and start again. I had this done, and she also found a nerve she hadn't expected to find (the pain almost sent me through the roof when she found it!) so she "killed it" (her words) and filled the tooth and roots with a temporary filling. I went back yesterday and she removed the temporary filling, put the permanent white filling in and there was a pain which she said couldn't be a nerve because she'd killed it last time. After she'd finished, she took more x-rays and then said there was a nerve still in the tooth, and because of that and the infection that had been there all the time, she would need to take out the permanent filling, kill the nerve again and re-fill. I queried that she mentioned an infection had been there all the time but she had still put the permanent filling over it, and she said it would be fine. I've had no pain since two days after the first examination, have paid up to date and am tempted to wait to see if there is pain again and then see a different dentist. Am I being paranoid? Bless her, she's very nice but it doesn't sound right to me to put a permanent filling over an infected root... Any dentists out there? I would be grateful for any advice X

[jno]

if you aren't confident in your dentist, get another dentist. It isn't up to you or anyone else to restore your confidence in her; only she can do that, and only if you decide to let her. She doesn't seem to be very good at reading X-rays or spotting nerves, and the result is that you're suffering unnecessary pain.

I've left a couple of dentists I lost confidence in, and now have one I'm very happy with.

[Old_Geezer]

I think after that sort of error I'd be inclilned to find another dentist. Problem is it is one of those relationships where you have to put trust in the other so you don't need doubts. If a tooth is infected then surely that would be dealt with first, before refilling; a course of antibiotics maybe ?

[LochNessMonster]

I've had 5 fillings in the last two weeks, my dentist was fantastic. She gave me a few injections and scaled my teeth before clearing my teeth and placing my fillings in. :)

[Hopkirk]

I was content that I had a dentist I was confident in.

The bugg@r just went and retired, damn him.

[jno]

yes, best to find one's who's younger than you, but not so young they're still at Pain School.

[Misky]

She is younger than me by about twenty years. And sorry jno, I should have phrased my question more bluntly and asked - should she have put the permanent filling in over an infection she knew was there? I know she should have found the nerve when she was in the second time (well she did actually, but told herself and me that it couldn't be a nerve as she'd killed it previously). She has given me a prescription for antibiotics and said to take them only if I have any pain.

[cathfromsaron]

go elsewhere! i am a big wimp (too) but my dentist's treatment is guaranteed painless and you can listen to music through headphones!

[albaqwerty]

'She has given me a prescription for antibiotics and said to take them only if I have any pain.'

Am I being dense? Surely a course of antibugs should be taken at regular intervals to clear up the infection. If you get pain, take painkillers.

[jno]

I'd have said no, she shouldn't, she should clear up infections first (in fact that's what's happening to me right now - antibiotics and no alcohol, sob); but I'm not a dentist and I don't know what best practice is.

[jno]

alba, your body ought to be able to fight infections itself, so you'd only take antibiotics if it wasn't succeeding; that might be the dentist's line of thinking. But as I say, I'm not one.

[Misky]

I think I will cancel the appointment I've made for four weeks' time (due to hols) and then make another with a different Dentist to see what he thinks. Part of me thinks I'm just chickening out because I have no pain at the moment, but I'll promise myself I'll make an appointment elsewhere.

[albaqwerty]

Me neither jno. I was just curious.

Wishing you all the best Misky x

[Misky]

Thanks Alba and all X

[Zippolover]

As the root and associated nerve have been removed, there is nowhere for the infection to live now. The problem was caused by the previous work and your nerves being misplaced!

Finding a dentist that you trust and understands you is not easy when you are frightened in the first place.

I used to be a dental nurse, albeit a looooong time ago.

[Misky]

Thanks Zippolover - so it was okay for her to fill over an infection as she thought the nerve and root were dead and the infection would die too. That makes me feel better. I think I'll wait till I come back from hols and see how I feel then about going back to her or trying elsewhere. Thanks very much X