Sensitive molars (could it be my braces?)

Before I go out hunting for a decent dentist here in Chicago, I wanted to see if anyone else has dealt with something similar—maybe you can help me prep for the absolute torture session I know is coming my way.

So, here’s the deal: I wore braces for two years and eight months. Took them off about twelve years ago. After a while, my molars started getting sensitive to everything—cold, hot, sweet, sour... you name it. Since it's just the molars acting up, I figured it might have something to do with the braces, especially since those four teeth had metal crowns on them back then. Is it even possible that they somehow messed up the teeth long-term? I tried using Sensodyne and things actually got a little better for a bit. But now? It’s like my teeth just became immune to the stuff. Then, after more time passed, my bottom molars started hurting just from chewing. I just sat there and took it, thinking there was nothing I could do and that this was just my life now. Well, last Monday, I finally went to the dentist because one of my molars cracked. Turns out, she ended up working on the others too because they were in worse shape (cavities). She didn't even give me local anesthesia—she spent half an hour drilling away, and let me tell you, the pain was unreal. Like, nothing I've ever felt in my life. She put in some permanent medication and filled it with this hideous, rough filling that honestly makes my skin crawl whenever my tongue touches it (but that's secondary). Now, the tooth is actually in worse shape than before. I can't chew anything unless it's mushy. Every single bite sends this sharp, shooting pain through me, like being poked with a needle. I went back to get an X-ray and show her what was happening. Her response? "Everything looks clean." Her excuse is that the decay was too deep and the tooth just needs time to settle down. It’s been ten days, and nothing has changed—the situation is identical, and I know deep down something is wrong. Because I’ve been avoiding chewing on that side, I’ve been eating exclusively on the left for days. And then, wouldn't you know it, the other molar started hurting the exact same way. Now I can't chew anything hard on either side. I should probably mention that all my molars had those old, gray fillings for a long time before they were replaced. Also, that first molar has this one specific painful spot on the outer side, near the gumline. It only hurts when the dentist runs her metal probe over that exact spot. Does anyone have any clue where this desperate, agonizing pain is coming from? Especially since it's just one pinpoint spot on the tooth rather than the whole surface.
And yeah, obviously, I'm switching dentists ASAP because this one clearly has no idea what she's doing.

I’m a bit lost on what’s actually going on here. 🙂
What kind of treatment leaves you with a permanent ache? If it only hurts when you bite down, the filling might be too high, or there could be a hairline fracture that isn't showing up on an X-ray. If it’s a root fracture, you're likely looking at an extraction. However, if you're dealing with sensitivity to hot or cold, spontaneous pain, or lingering discomfort, the nerve probably needs to be addressed via a root canal. Either way, my advice is to get a second opinion from another dentist. I'm sure you'll get it sorted out. 😉

Gerald Smith76 said:I’m totally lost on what’s going on in this thread... 🙂
What kind of treatment leaves you with a permanent fix but a tooth that still throbs? If it only hurts when you bite down, it might just be that the filling is sitting too high—or maybe there's a hairline fracture that's playing hide-and-seek, even on an X-ray (and if we're talking about a root fracture, you're probably looking at an extraction). But if it's reacting to hot or cold, or just aching on its own for ages, you'll likely need a root canal. Either way, go get a second opinion from another dentist; I'm sure they'll figure it out. 😉

Honestly, I probably would’ve been just as confused if I didn't already know the specifics of my situation 🙂 And as for the "fix"—I have no clue what kind of procedure stays in forever like that. I actually asked her if it was something temporary that needs to be removed later, but she insisted it's a permanent thing, like the tooth is fully repaired and done. I'm really crossing my fingers that the solution is just a root canal, because I am absolutely not thrilled about the idea of an extraction. That said, I can't deal with this pain anymore, so I'm officially on the hunt for a new dentist. Thanks so much for the insight—it gives me a better idea of what I'm walking into. 🙂