I went to the dentist because all of a sudden, one day I noticed that one of my back, top molars had a chip in it.
She suggested that since most of the fillings in my cavities were the old metal ones, that they should be replaced.
While I absolutely LOVE my dentist (and I am usually really afraid of doctors and dentists), she never explained that I may have some 'discomfort' with the new tooth colored fillings.
I had these teeth done in 3 seperate visits within about 2 weeks, so when they were tender and sensitive to ANY liquid....hot, cold, even room temperature, I just thought it was because they were new.
3 months later, they are still hurting, sometimes even worse than when I first got them.
I live on Tylenol, taking 3 or 4 of them about every 3-4 hours, every single day.
The times it is the worst though is, because I have allergies, and sometimes when I get a stuffy nose at night and start breathing through my mouth, I wake up with HORRIBLE pain!

I would wonder with SO MANY people having this issue, that something might be wrong with this type of filling. Does anyone know if there might be any kind of 'official' dental research type place that we might be able to send our experiences to?

After a night of insomnia (due to such bad tooth pain!), I was watching a TV commercial for a lawyers office, about medications that were very common, being advertised on TV and in magazines, and on the market as recently as a couple of months ago, that they say are causing major medical side effects.

I just don't want to be putting up with this pain, just to see a commercial in about a year saying that the new tooth colored fillings have some kind of chemical that is causing cancer or anything....

I really appreciate everyone's stories, it's relieving to know that I'm not the only one in pain. I went to the dentist due to random pains in one of my molars on the bottom right side. My dentist ended up fixing two cavities that were next to each other and it seemed fine during the procedure. After I could barely open my mouth and I had pain even though the meds hadn't run out. Now that is worn out I am in even more pain, it's excruciating. I've taken Tylenol, Advil, Ibuprophen and it hasn't helped. My whole bottom right side is in pain and continues to get worse every minute. I hope this pain goes away soon because I do not have the finances to get a root canal done.

I'm not even sure if I will get a response for this because it has been so long since the last post, but I am desperate. I had my teeth filled about 2 months ago and am in sooo much pain where I can't take it anymore. I have been back to my dentist for the pain and was told I have nerve irritation because I grind my teeth at night. So my dentist suggested a night guard. So I spent $540 on a night guard, which wasn't covered by insurance, and lets just say I wasted money because that isn't the problem at all. I don't even think I have sensitivity to the filling because I had cavities filled on the other side of my mouth and they all are fine. I can't even count how many bottles of advil I have gone through in the past 2 months. Please someone post and let me know if the pain finally went away...

I posted before you about two months ago, which is when I also got my teeth filled. I have been experiencing the same pains everyday. I wake up several times at night, and in the morning the pain is horrible. The only thing helping me is ibuprophen, so I know what you are going through. I haven't gone to the dentist since my fillings were done because I don't have the money to spend. If you find anything out I would greatly appreciate it if you could relay it to me.

One of the times I went back to the dentist they said I might need a root canal, but here is the thing...My teeth were fine before I had the cavities filled so NO I will not get a root canal!!! I think you are in the same boat as me HearMe with money being an issue. I can't afford to go back to the dentist, but I am wondering if there might be a way around it. I just want to call my dentist and be like, "look, I'm in a lot of pain you will help me and I am not paying for this visit b/c you screwed up in the first place!" Also...last night was the first night I actually didn't wake up 50 times in pain b/c I have a cold and I am taking NyQuil. Sad. Isn't it?

I went to the dentist about a year and a half ago to get some fillings. The dentist did 3 on one side. I had to make an appointment to get the other two. But then I found out I was pregnant and couldnt do it. So last saturday i was finally able to go back after having my baby and the dentist said I had to get 6 more fillings (?!) so I say okay. He did 5 of them (3 on one side and 2 on the other) and today (friday) I am hurting so bad. I've been hurting all week long with sensitivity... and can hardly stand to eat! I get headaches and jaw pain from all the sensitivity. I am going back tomorrow at 8am.. and If they have to re-do the fillings I am not paying!! I've already spent about $1100 on these! He also said I might hav to do a root canal on my bottom right tooth, and the one on the top of that [that isnt even in pain..?] so I am thinking I am getting pushed around..... Any thoughts?

I have also have the exact same problem as you. Ive never had a real filling before with an numbing injection, only the childs white ones. The tooth i had filled was at the far back. At first the pain only came when i ate on it, which was highly painful, but over the passt few weeks now its become a lot more sensitive to cold foods and drinks and i normally find it very hard to drink without causing any pain. Ive looked at my teeth and gums and they all seem to look fine but the pain seems to have passed further down towards the front which makes it even harder to drink on. Thanks for the information in here though! Its been a help. Ill repost after ive had the tooth checked out.

I just had to post because I'm having this problem and I dunno what to do.
As with everybody else, I had a "big" cavity (which is weird that they never caught it at my other appointments) and my dentist didn't inform me of the pros and cons of the different types of fillings.
So my mom told them to do the white one, and after all the anesthetics wore off my tooth was really sensitive to everything liquid.

Then when I thought it got better, one day it just got so sensitive and painful, it gave me a headache. When it gets really painful, it seems like when I suck that area it seems like there might be a leak or something.

I just hate that I'm taking an Advil practically every other day now, and when I go out and it starts hurting, it just makes me really irritable if I can't get my hands on an otc pain reliever. ;_;

I went back to the dentist once and they just ground it down a bit which did practically nothing, and suggested that I might need a root canal. They didn't even consider that they should re-do the filling, or do a silver one instead.
I'm gonna feel really bad if I have to get a root canal, because my mom already complains about how much money we had to spend just getting the damned thing filled.

Help? =/

I too am having pain after my fillings were done. I have never had a cavitiy in my life and I went to the dentist b/c of some minor pain in one of molars, she then looked in my mouth and told me all four of my molars had cavities and needed to be filled. So I went ahead with all four (white) fillings. That was two weeks ago and I still have pain/sensativity when chewing ;in particular. I don't have such major pain that it keeps me up @ night and I don't have any more sensativity to hot/cold but just chewing. After reading the forum, I am so nervous to go back to the dentist b/c it seems as if everyone gets the same reply from their dentist; that is to just grind down the filling or get a root canal! No thank you! I guess I will just wait another month and see what happens. This is all very good to know, that I am not the only one and some people have much more severe pain. I guess I feel lucky in that aspect (that my pain doesn't keep me up @ night).

I had 2 amalgam fillings replaced with composite fillings in molars 30 and 31 approximately 10 weeks ago. I never had any previous problems with my teeth - my dentist recommended changing out the fillings because they were 30 years old. Big mistake. The new composite fillings caused pressure sensitivity and cold sensitivity, as well as referred pain in nearby teeth. I then searched the American Association of Cosmetic Dentists (AACD) website and found the only accredited dentist in my area and called that dentist immediately. The new dentist replaced the composite fillings with a new pair of composite fillings. I had the work done today!!! It took the new dentist almost 3 hours to complete the job because it is very labor intensive. The old dentist completed the job in less than 10 minutes. The new dentist said the bonding was terrible the first time around. I guess we'll see what happens. I'll keep you posted.....

About a week ago, I had fillings done in the upper-right quadrant of my mouth. Yes, they hurt, terribly. And, as ashamed as I am to say, they were only a few of many fillings that I had to do. And hopefully the last, for a while.

When I first came to the dentist I'm at now, I hadn't been for even a cleaning for the upper-part of ten years. Unfortunately, I had about 18 cavities that had to be filled. The employee that cleaned my teeth said that I was lucky, and they weren't deep, but I need them to be filled.

Of course, I went through with the procedure, with relatively no pain, save for mild soreness afterwards, once the Novocaine began to wear away.

I experienced the same excruciating pain at cold/heat/pressure, but it seems like for some of the teeth, it wasn't as bad as this was. I grind my teeth at night, and now, with the most recent (and last) fillings put in, my mouth hurts more than ever. I also must admit, my dentist isn't probably as up-to-date as he could be, but I don't think that it's a problem with his method, or skill.

I'm not sure what kind of fillings I have, because they aren't exactly silver, nor are they white. They're actually kind of a light-grey colour, and they've taken a bit of time to go from gritty to slick. This doesn't really bother me, that they aren't exactly tooth-coloured, since they're in the back of my mouth. I am questioning my dentist's credibility though. Are fillings supposed to be gritty when you first get them done, or does it take a while for that to happen?

I don't usually have a problem with dealing with the pain, I'll take various pain-killers, and it's fine. My problem is that it's depriving me of sleep. I'm a student, and, granted I can keep late hours, whatever sleep I do get now, I desperately need. I've been told that a mouth guard should help, but several people have said that it will just make my mouth more sore. I really, really don't need (or want that). I also realize that if I grind my teeth, I should get a mouth guard anyhow, to avoid chipping anything.

Should the teeth below the quadrant I just got filled be hurting as well now? They were filled almost a month ago, and they only hurt when the top set hurt. It happens mostly at night, but only on the right, most recently-filled side of my mouth. I've been waking up from pain almost every night, early in the morning (Any time from 5AM-7AM) with excruciating pain and soreness in my jaw, and also along the right side of my mouth. This wears on my nerves, and my mood, and I'm afraid that if this pain persists, my achy teeth, and the bad moods they cause may cost me a college interview.

This is frustrating and has ruined my holiday spirit. Is there any (even temporary) quick-fix for this, aside from pain-killers every so often?

I thought I would post an update of my experience.

I had some of my old silver fillings replaced with the new tooth colored fillings back at the beginning of June, and had nothing but problems with them.

For 6 months I was taking so much motrin and tylenol that I would not be suprised if it has affeced my health (about 15 a day, every day) just to maintain a tolerable level of discomfort.

All of a sudden, without any warning or abnomal eating, the pain got so intense one evening that the advils weren't even touching it and I was going through an entire tube on OraGel every day for about 3 or 4 days.

Then one night, it was so bad that I could not even function.
I just sat on the floor all curled up rocking back and forth and crying.
I had even considered going into the regular ER to get something for the pain.

Luckily, I found a dentist the next morning that could get me in on an emergency appointment.

What he told me was that it was my sinuses.
He said my sinuses were so infected that they were pushing down in to my gums (or something like that).

He also said that people who have sinus issues (allergies, frequent colds, etc.) will have much more problem due to this while their teeth are adjusting to the new fillings. So along with the Motrin, (motrin takes down the swelling, Tylenol doesn't, or that is what the dentist told me) try taking some decongestant tablets or make sure you keep up with any allergy medication you are prescribed.

He put me on a major dose of antibiotics (not just some regular stuff...but the heavy duty stuff!), and that night, was the worst night ever...I just sat and cried. It even got to the point of pounding my fists on the floor the pain was so intense at times.
But by sunrise, it began to subside a bit.
Then by the next afternoon, had subsided enought to sleep a little.
By the next day it was nearly gone and 2 motrin was wiping it out completely.

I told my husband that for Christmas, I got my life back, because on Christmas eve, I was able to chew a medium-rare steak without any pain or sensitivity at all, and I hadn't even taken any motrin that day!!!

Today is day 6 without ANY motrin or Tylenol at all, and just a tiny little twinge of discomfort if I drink something really cold.

If you are in major pain, and your dentist is telling you it is "normal" like my old one did...GET A NEW DENTIST!

My new dentist said, it is normal to have SOME discomfort (not pain), for a short while (a couple of months...MAXIMUM!)

I really hope this helps some of you...because I know I was really suffering and now that everything is back to normal, I am SOOO happy!!

i soooo know what you ppl are talking about.....

i just got my very first cavity filled 4 days ago. (i am 22) and i am in EXCRUCIATING PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!
if i dont take excederin all day long, i would probly die. (ok, maybe thats a lil dramatic), but i just woke up, and i didnt take any before bed, and the pain is so bad i cant talk! from one dang filling!!!!!!! (and yes, its the white ones). i dont blame my dentist though. i've been going there since i was 4 years old, and ive never witnessed any disgruntled customers of any sort.
i am reading that this pain can last like 6 months???? that sucks, because i have to go back and get more filled like next week!!!!!!!!!
not to mention i have to get my wisdom teeth out ASAP because they too are ate up with cavities.
i find it odd i have never had a cavity before, and all of a sudden in the past 6 months i get like 5. (i beleive it has something to do with me starting to drink dr pepper daily??)
however, i am devestated. i looooove my teeth. and now they are betraying me. they've held up for this long, only to let me down in a big way. is it true after you have children your teeth get worse? i have had 2, so we may just have an answer there. but it sounds like an unplausible myth to me.
as i sit here and type this, and paitently wait for my excederin to kick in, i am starting to wonder.... could taking the perscription diet medication phenteremine (adipex) have something to do with all of this toothy drama? if anyone has a clue let me know.

Ok, this is kinda bothering me, and I too feel like sometimes Dentist do procedures to make money and not necessarily to help the patient.

I had a silver filing and they said it was breaking down. I also had supposed decay on another molar on the other side (both on bottom, same tooth opposite sides).

Now, I did not feel any pain at all on either tooth, and my metal one seemed fine to me when I was inspecting it on my own. Also, I prefer the metal because its covered by my insurance, but not the white composite, but this dentist only does the composite.

So I was convinced and did both (after they lowered the cost a bit). I went in yesterday and had the two filled. Now these must have been very small (if any) cavities because the dentist did not use any pain killer. He filled them both but now the replacement one hurt a lot when i chew on it (and its on my right side so I normally chew food there..

Its quite annoying especially since i felt no pain before the filling and the previous one seemed ok.

I hate going to the dentist...

I had a deep white filling in a molar nearly two weeks ago. At first it seemed to get much better but gradually has deteriorated again. The pain is worse in the afternoon and at night. In the morning there is virtually no pain! I cannot take Ibuprofen and the 650mg paracetamol doesn´t touch it. The only thing that makes it bearable is swilling with neat whisky or brandy. I suppose I should go back? What can I do to relieve the pain until Monday?

I must say...this site has made me feel better that I am not alone...It is very difficult for family, friends or co-workers to understand if they have never experienced anything like these situations.

I was very faithful to my 6 months cleanings & having cavities filled as needed. I was a HUGE advocate of dentists & not being scared, but then something not great happened. A newer dentist at my office said I had cavities on two back molars on the insides, where they touch each each other. I had them filled (and had many done before with no pain after), but this time atleast one tooth badly ached. After about a week & a few visits there, he said "I think I nicked a nerve & you will need a root canal." I cried, sucked it up & had it done. It was on one of the teeth & the endodontist that did it told me the other tooth he filled would probably need one eventually, also.

Just an FYI to alot of people here...unfortunantly, it sounds like that may be what is needed. After doing a lot of researching, it seems to be not that uncommon for things like this to happen. The root canal went awesome. I had no pain after, except my jaw was sore from being open. It was so great, I told my husband I wanted root canals on all teeth! lol

I was then scared of the dentist. I quit going until 2 years later when that other tooth started hurting...I went in to a new dental place & the first thing they said was yes, I needed a root canal on the other tooth. This time it didn't go so smooth. At one point I felt pain during it (which I hadn't at all during the first one). This was a different endodontist doing this root canal & why I didn't go back to the first, I have no idea! This new guy told me it was a "hot tooth" & gave me extra novacaine. It lasted longer & was very, very achey while he was doing it, so much so it made me sick to my stomach. I had extreme pain after this root canal. I could not eat, let my teeth hit, but most importantly, breathing hurt...

After a couple visits, they told me it must be a cracked tooth & pulled my tooth. This was devastating to me, but if it was what was needed, so be it. The pain never got any better. I missed a ton of work. The pain ran up my head & through my ear. After a couple weeks & many visits to them, I wrote to a dentist on a site like this. He suggested an oral surgeon because it sounded like they pushed the root canal filling too far down & it had went into my nerve & bone.

I went to a fantastic oral surgeon & he opened it back up & removed pieces of chipped bone, a mass of infectious material & helped take some pressure off my nerve. Literally in 2 days, the pain was almost completely gone.

I will say that I think some of it is experience with the dentists. I noticed the first guy who did my root canal had probably done them for 15-20 years. I think the second one could not have been older then 25. Same with the dentist that "nicked my nerve". He was in his mid 20's & new to the practice. My advise is get someone not too young, but not so old they are out of date And, again, I think the people who have been taking the pills for months...I think that maybe that isn't normal, & it probably will be a root canal in the end. Good Luck

I Had my last of six fillings done on January 30 2007. (I know SIX fillings!!!??)

Top right, bottom right, top left , bottom left. A couple days after the filling my top right teeth and gums began to hurt. So i started to take advil, hoping this was a temporary pain, part of the recovery or something. As the pain incresed so did the advil. about 2 weeks after the final feeling, I became really concerned that the advil was not helping, I was taking 3 advill every 3 and half hours and would of gladly taken more if I was scared of any overdose issues. It said on the bottle dont take more than six a day, and I would say I am probably at 12 or more.

I went back to the dentist, who told me my filling could be slightly high which cause the fibres holding the teeth to becom traumatized. So she adjusted the tooth. And everything felt fine (she said it was like a bruise that would heal in a couple days) but oddly I felt almost an instant relief from the sharp throbing pain. Well the left side slightly hurt before, began to really hurt, so much to the same extent of the right side, throbing sharp pain, that I would actually many times cup my face and let out a cry.

I went back to the dentist and she thought it was really odd I was back, and there wasmore pain so she suggested the same diognostic for my left side as the right side, She asked me how the right side was doing and I told her it was fine except for it began to slightly hurt earlier today but nothing like the left. So she adjusted the left side (this was only two days ago) and so far there is no sharp pain , but there is pain and my right bottom side has now taken over the roll of life sucking pain. And here comes the advil, again, the migraines, again, the food restrictions AGAIN.

I phoned the dentist and politely (really) ranted I wasnt the same person I cant live like this any longer something needs to be done. SO I am scheduled in for monday and I am going to ask her about the possibility of bubbles (as some of you have wrote) and If I am now going to have to lear to eat with my front teeth.

The tooth pain gets so bad that it gives me intense migraines, I cant sleep at nite, I wake up when the advil wears off with tooth pain. Take more advil go back to sleep, try to, the advil takes half hour now to even dull the pain slightly. I wake up with a migraine and major tooth aches. I choose meal replacements in can over solid foods most of the time to avoid the sharp throbing pain after eating.

I am irratible because I am in constant pain, I am exhausted because of lack of sleep and pretty much I feel like im slowly starving on meal replacements, Im scared of any effects so much advil will cause. I am not myself. And I can honestly say I would rather have let all these teeth rot to the core and opt for rrot canals than to live through this. I think I should add I am an EXTREMELY pain tolerent person, Ex. I gave birth naturally, no drugs or anything. AND YET I cant live through this throbing life, sleep , food stealing pain.


I was really hoping for a solution, although others with similar experiences is comforting to know since my dentist and her assistant make me feel alienated from normal. I was hoping for a fix . ANYone?

I thought I should add, I have had fillings done before and NOTHING like this has ever happened. I am wondering if something happened during the curing process. Because the young dental assistant neglected to report to the dentist after I told her before the star of a filling that my jaw did not feel frozen and I even touched it with my finger to show I could steel feel it. And so when the assistant continued to cover my mouth with the rubber stuff and I could no longer talk the dentist came in and sure enough as soon as she began drilling OUCH HELLO! but the young dental assistant didnt say anything like oh she did tell me she didnt think it was frozen, And she talked alot through the whole thing and the dentist had to give her weird are you going to do your "cureing" looks and she would respond in a "oops" manner. This sounds weird but trully I did not like the dental assistant practices from the begining I didnt trust her especially after she remained silent after the whole tooth not been frozen incident.

Yet again a dentist say's you need a tooth filled and even though the tooth doesn't bother me I go ahead with it. WHY!!! Once I had one done, (it didn't bother me either), three days later, CRACK!!!! my tooth broke and I had to have it removed. I should have seen sense then, but no, I still went ahead and had this one done.
I have had similar problems to most posts on here with sensitivity to hot and cold and a constant dull ache. Two nights ago I got some sensitive toothpaste on my finger and rubbed it around the area of the tooth and Hey Presto, it has calmed down. I still have not eaten on that side though and have also avoided hot and cold drinks for fear of starting the pain off again.
Do you think most of the treatments suggested by the dentist have one thing in common? I do, M O N E Y for them.
I have decided to only visit the dentist in order to see the hygenist to have my teeth cleaned as I like them nice and white. I will never, ever, ever have anything done unless I am in pain. I don't care what the dentist says, I will trust my own instincts.

I am in the Military and had my old silver fillings replaced after a tooth chipped. i am feeling the worse pain that i can imagine. Now i don't pay for my dental obviously so i think money has nothing to do with it. Military isn't making money off of me going back a couple times to fix this. In fact they are losing money doing it. I hope that you all, as well as myself, get some relief with this issue.