I went in for what my dentist assured me was a simple cosmetic bonding procedure about three weeks ago. As soon as the anesthetic wore off after it, my whole upper left side (the area he worked on) began throbbing. I called the dentist that night and he told me to take ibuprofen and that it would probably clear up in a day or so. I could tell by his tone that he was not happy I bothered him with it. Although he didn’t outright say it, the implication was that this is normal and that I should just deal with it. The ibuprofen works, but as soon as it starts wearing off, I become very aware of my tooth again. I put up with this for about a week and then insisted that the dentist at least look at it. They obliged and took some x-rays, but the dentist said there was nothing wrong with it and told me to give it time. Now it’s been close to a month and still no relief. Is there still a chance this is going to fade? What should I be asking my dentist to do for me at this point?
Thank you,
Sienna,
Dear Sienna,
It sounds like you’re experiencing an abnormal response and the tooth will likely require additional treatment. It’s concerning the doctor isn’t taking a more proactive approach here. If a tooth hurts, there is always something wrong- it’s never ok to dismiss a patient and tell them they’re fine when they’re reporting pain.
Some Patients Experience Sensitivity After Cosmetic Bonding
Only you know your true level of discomfort. Pain is not a normal response, but sometimes sensitivity or discomfort can be.
Discomfort Around the Injection Site
You might feel an achiness around your injection site or, if a nerve is grazed/ hit during the injection, that can create some soreness too. This usually diminishes within a few days, but could last a couple of weeks or more.
Tooth Sensitivity
The nerves of your tooth can also get irritated by the vibrations of the handpiece or by being worked on. In these cases, ibuprofen is ideal because it helps calm the inflammation and gives the tooth a chance to settle. However, it’s generally characterized by more of a dull ache than a throbbing pain, and will generally dissipate within a few days or weeks. Others may notice sensitivity to temperature changes and such. While most people have no issues at all, it’s common enough that dentists will see it every so often, and it’s fairly normal to take a “wait and see” approach because the vast majority of patients will see improvement with no additional treatment.
Pain After Cosmetic Bonding is Not Normal
If you’re having the kind of pain that keeps you up at night, stops you from eating, or prevents you from engaging in your daily routine, it usually signifies something is wrong. It could be that the nerve is dying or that something else is wrong with the work the dentist did. He should be the one taking action here, though. If you’re in pain, schedule another appointment and be frank with him about what your feeling and be as specific as possible. Make note of any triggers that make you feel better or worse, times of day you notice it more, or any other details you can remember. He should be able to tell you why he thinks it’s happening. If not, and he offers no solutions again, please find another dentist to give you a proper diagnosis.
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