Filling sensitivitywhat could it mean?

[dopeysgem]

Had a filling along the gum line of molar #31.

About 10 months later I began experiencing sensitivity along the gum line by the filling to cold foods and sometimes air. Also felt discomfort when eating hard or crunchy foods. Irritation subsided after two to three weeks, then I had one to two weeks of relief before the symptoms returned. This second round of irritation subsided again within a few weeks and returned again after a few weeks of relief. Clearly there’s a pattern forming as I’m currently experiencing a third round of discomfort.

So, what is going on? Could the filling be failing or cracked? Could an abscess slowly be forming? Infection?

The gum was pulled and stretched away from the tooth during the procedure, so the dentist could have better access for the filling. But that healed early on. Could the sensitivity be gum related or filling related? It’s hard to tell because the pain is right at the gum line…mainly in the area where the filling is.

If it persists much longer, I will be visiting the Dentist. But I’ve heard that sensitivity to cold food could automatically mean the need for a root canal. Really scared to get that diagnosis and hoping it could be something a lot less serious.
Thanks!

 

[Audpoet]

Similar situation for me except mine happened in a span of a month. Mine was between two teeth. Root canal happened on one tooth and the one next to it acted up months later. Second root canal. It wasn't an abcess yet but you could smell decay when they drilled in!

Something is likely up but what it is is hard to pinpoint. Either the filling needs re done or it could be in need of a root canal either due to being too deep or filling not sealed properly. In my case, my filling was too deep on one and the other was not a good filling.

Hey these things can happen. I would honestly visit dentist first and then get an endo ice test on the tooth! If you do need a root canal though everything will be fine. If it passes ice test it could just be a re do needed on filling.