Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PeteJB]

This thread is mainly for those with lots of experience at the dentist... So, I had a filling about four weeks ago - A few days after, it started to ache whenever I ate anything for an extended period. A few more days passed, and I went back to the dentist. He said it could be due to the filling being too high, so he flattened it out a bit. He also gave me some antibiotics because of signs of plaque and inflammation around the gums. Well, I've been on the antibiotics for about a week now (down to the last few) and haven't noticed any improvements. I am naturally a 'worrying' person so this is really starting to bother me. If it's an infection, why hasn't it cleared up? Everything I've read suggests it should clear up in a few days. Here are some more details:

* It tends to ache all around the area of the filling - not specifically the tooth, it feels more like the whole side.

* It usually starts to ache when I eat meals (the more I have to chew the worse it gets) - The ache stays for about 10-30 minutes after eating.

* I've noticed it aches more with hot meals than cold ones.

* I've always had sensitive teeth - but it feels particularly sensitive to both hot and cold now.

* The filling was in the right side of the mouth (which is where the aches are) - Sometimes it aches without eating, but not for long.

* If I lay on the right side of my face at night, I wake up with it aching.

* Lately it aches a little bit in the morning regardless which side I lay on.

So, can someone tell me if this is an infection or somekind of pain relating to the filling that will go away? Someone put my mind at ease...

[Dazed and Confused]

I had a siimilar problem when I was in elementary school after a filling. Basically the cavity was large and the dentist removed alot of the inside of the tooth. That part is a type of insulation and with the filling being almagam (metal) it conducted heat and cold too easily and would set the nerve off. When I had the filling replaced 10 years ago it started acting up again and would hurt everytime I ate. Eventually it settled down and stopped hurting.
Get a second opinion just to make sure. Maybe you need a root canal or more treatment? Now with lasers they can kill off part of the nerve in a simple 5 minute proceedure. I have a great dentist in Seoul that I really like. PM for his number.

[jvalmer]

It might just be inflamed gums. Try finding some advil, or some kind of anti-inflammatory and see if it helps.

I once had some massive aching for a week, which I thought was a cavity, or an infection. I went to the dentist, and after expensive x-rays and checking, he said the only thing he could think of was gum inflammation. So he gave me a couple packets of advil (anti-inflammatory), told me to try it that night and come back if I'm still in pain the next morning.

[PeteJB]

It's been going on for about 3 weeks now. I can't be sure, but sometimes the pain/ache seems to radiate to the ear and the inflammation to the glands (it's not constant though). The dentist didn't mention anything about a root canal - but I might look for a second opinion, if anyone can recommend a good dentist in Seoul.

[young_clinton]

[ThingsComeAround]

*/rant
Toward the end of my first year in Korea, I went to the local dentist and asked him to give me a check up. He said sure, didn't X-ray or anything, but tinkered around my mouth for 5 minutes and told me I had ten cavities

Then he whips out his book to show me the most expensive filling plan (gold) available. I told him $200 per filling was a bit much for me, and later he took it down to a ceramic/metal display which was still outside my ballpark. So I left, but satisfied that I would go home to a dentist I know and trust

Fast forward two months, I am home, visit my dentist and ask her about these alleged ten "cavities" in my mouth. She said no, there was only a small one, which could be fixed in fifteen minutes (no novocaine )
rant/*

SO let me ask, did you have pain before going to the dentist? Do you trust this dentist to "fix" the problem that they created? I would definitely suggest getting a second opinion- makes all the difference

[Senior]

[PeteJB]

I've seen using Sensodyne for a while now, it helps a little bit - do they even sell it in Korea, though? Sugar doesn't seem to set it off, as a bag of sugary candies I had just now didn't affect it at all.

[jackdaniels]

If the ache/pain has moved up to your ears this could be a sign of a serious infection.

Many a cave dweller died because of a tooth infection spread to the brain.

Go to the hospital asap.

[PeteJB]

It ain't that bad and I've been on antibiotics. It might not even be an infection.

It rarely aches without food.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[PeteJB]

I will in due time, just wanting some opinions. Consulting costs money, afterall.

[D.D.]

Yes an English teacher forum is a great place for medical advice. I just love it when people prescribe medication when their degree is political science. To the guy who suggested advil get a life you freaking idiot.

[nobbyken]

OP, from my experience it seems that where the dentist created the cavity for the filling, there is now less tooth between the nerve and inside of your tooth.
I had some work done, leaving the tooth sensitive for about 2-3 weeks.
Be careful what you eat, only brush lighly around the painful tooth and try chewing on the other side for a while. Sometimes a painkiller in the evening may be required to get through this uncomfortable time.
You can ask for Sensodyne toothpaste at a Pharmacy.
Probably cost about 8ooo원, and always helps me.

[PeteJB]

So - now it doesn't hurt often when I eat, but my jaw hurts a little bit on the opposite side of my face whenever I bite down. Definitely an infection, then - or inflammation?

As for the original tooth problem: I noticed the other day I 'caught it' somehow when eating, then it was aching for hours after. But the following day, it didn't hurt much at all even when eating.