Pain in filling whilst spearfishing...

[the_milkman]

Hi,

Just had a filling in one of my teeth a couple of weeks ago . First dive, and hit 5m and got pain in the newly filled tooth. It had been a bit sensitive since the drilling, so didn't think anything of it, and just speared shallow that day.

Went back in a week later, the sensitivity had settled down, so thought I'd have no problems but again got to 5m and there it was...really annoying, it ruined another dive, I just could not get past 5m without bad pain.

Have any other spearos had this problem? Is it something that goes away in time?

[BennyB]

Sounds to me like the dentist left a little air trapped in the hole in your tooth when he put the filling. This will cause the pain when you dive and as far as I know there's no way of stopping it unless you get the filling taken out and put in again.

I was very explicit with my dentist when I had my fillings put in that I was a diver and could not have any airspaces in my fillings. I've had no troubles with them and i've taken them fairly deep. One came out but he replaced it and I had no troubles.

Also, if you have a little infection or the hole isn't cleaned/drilled out properly then some gas can build up which would have the same result.

I would contact your dentist and tell him that there must be some air trapped in the filling and ask if it's possible to have it replaced. They should do it (and for free too) because I imagine there would be ramifications for flying as well, and in my opinion they didn't doo the job right in the first place if there's air in it.

Unfortunately these sorts of problems don't go away by themselves - a replacement filling is pretty much your only option.

Cheers,
Ben

[the_milkman]

Thanks mate - kind of thought it might involve a trip back to the dentist, but I was hoping not!!

[omega3]

As Benny says but since but also you might get away with pushing it untill the surrounding tissue of the cavity/airspace bursts filling the cavity/air pocket with blood and instant relief(you hope). Any gas will be removed and the cavity eventually filled with tissue.....great choice to have to make I would want to be getting payed to make that one!

[BennyB]

Well that brings a tear to the eye....

[the_milkman]

Originally Posted by omega3

As Benny says but since but also you might get away with pushing it untill the surrounding tissue of the cavity/airspace bursts filling the cavity/air pocket with blood and instant relief(you hope). Any gas will be removed and the cavity eventually filled with tissue.....great choice to have to make I would want to be getting payed to make that one!

wow, suddenly the repeat visit to the dentist seems like a walk in the park