I have a wisdom tooth that was last filled approximately 10 years ago and
remember being told at the time that it was a large deep filling and the
tooth would need to be extracted if it caused future problems.

Now to the present,during the past three days I have experienced pain from
this tooth but only when biting on it, cold and hot drinks have no effect. I
cannot see any cracks around the tooth although the amalgam filling looks
really black.

I went to my dentist today and told him the above information and I prepared
myself to be told that I needed an extraction ,however he rook an x-ray and
from this concluded that the filling was ok but did notice a dark patch some
distance away from the root on the x-ray and said it looked as though I had
a gum infection.

My dentist has given me a course of antibiotics and whilst he thinks this
will clear up the problem if it doesn't an extraction will be necessary.

Are you in general agreement with his diagnosis ?
Thank you

Michael