After five years of 3 different re-constructions on a cracked/ decayed big back tooth, the nerve started to die (v.painful) and has been removed. I now have a temp filling and am awaiting full root canal treatment in a few (6) weeks. When I had temp filling it gave me a disgusting rotting food taste in my mouth. It fell out afer 2 days and the cotton wool dressing in it was digusting- obviously food had got in and decomposed in it'. Got a new one in and I am now getting the bad taste in my mouth again. Obviously it seems that the temp filling is not sealing the area properly; there isn't a lot of tooth left to attach it to. Please can someone tell me what do do. I am sure it must be giving me bad breath. I am thoroughly flossing and cleaning around it etc. Can I leave it without a temp filling until I have root canal treatment? Or would it be best for me to have it extracted? The Dentists don't seem to be arsed about it but I am very much. Any advice??

Go back to the dentist and explain the problem. You might also consider eating a diet lower in protein. Brush and floss immediately after meals, and rinse with mouthwash. The problem will probbably persist until the root canal is completed.

You would be interested in Dr. Kulacz' website - www.drkulacz.com. He is a seizures and dental health expert for Deborah Ray show - www.healthyradiotalk.com. Good luck.

Did you ask the dentist if the tooth is restorable? If so, what kind of restoration will he/she do after the root canal is finished? For the sake of this discussion and given the fact that you say that not much tooth structure remains, let's assume that the final restoration will be a crown. Then there is no reason why he could not make a temporary crown through which the root canal can be perfromed.
The fact that you have to wait six weeks for treatment astounds me. Are you in an isolated area?
The fact that you need to contact this forum rather than telling your dentist about the problem is worrisome.

I taught dentistry for thirty years and one of the biggest problems I saw was communication between dentist and patient.

Go take a look at www.secrettruthaboutdentists.com -- it is an amazing site -- it will answer ALL your questions about everything dental-related! I stumbled upon this site by accident and couldn't believe it!!

I am not impressed with a web site that makes you buy their book before they answer questions. I am also not impressed with a site that uses a lay person as the administrator. These forums should have an experience professional as the leader.
Every profession has good and bad. I never consult or hire anyone without a referral from a credible source

Barkerrd:
With all due respect to you, be a little more open minded about this site. I am in the medical profession and became aware of this site through a colleague. I found it to be incredibly informative and very unbiased.
You can peruse the site if you choose not to buy the rights to enter outright... but I think that $10 is money well spent on this kind of shoot from the hip information. It is NOT about dentist bashing... Not at all... it is a consumer's guide to the very complex choices that are to be made regarding our dental options.

What is wrong with bias. We all have biases. My knoweldge and experience makes me biased. However, biases without foundation or good reason are wrong.

I am the world's greatest expert on my opinion.

Please don't generialize about my open mindedness about this site. I was speaking to one specific postiing.

Did you notice that Jan, the original poster did not respond to me or the administrator.

In another posting on this topic, Jan is told go to Dr. Kulacz' website. Dr. Kulacz preaches that root canals make people sick.

And finally, I did not mention dentist bashing, you did.

To make a new machine for this problem..
And I want to make it..