Discomfort in deep filled tooth

[Caramelteach]

Hello everyone, how is everyone doing?

Can anyone help me with a small query?

A couple of months ago, I had to see my dentist because I was having discomfort in the back molars on the top left hand side of my mouth. The 2 pre-molars are normal teeth, then the next molar has a deep filling that was done a few months ago, followed by the last molar, which is a years old root canal. I then have a wisdom tooth that only fully came through a few months ago (I'm now 38!)

My dentist had a look and took x rays and, even though I was convinced it was the deep filled tooth, he said there was a slight shadow on the rct and gave me antibiotics. He said that he would x ray again in 6 months to see how it was doing. He also said there was no decay in the deep filled tooth.

I am now having weird discomfort in and around the deep filled tooth again and I just don't understand what's going on! It's really hard to describe. It's not agony and it doesn't keep me awake at night or anything, it's just 'there' constantly. When I wake up in the morning, I don't really feel anything, but as the day goes on, I start to feel it. It doesn't seem to be affected by pressure or temperature and feels like it 'moves about' along the teeth sometimes.

I've had so much go wrong this year, not just dentally, that I'm having a hard time coping with this! It just feels like it's one thing after another. I so desperately want it to be something like me clenching on my mouth splint too hard at night, but I know it won't be. I also don't want to keep pestering my dentist-he's really lovely and I don't want him to get fed up with me. Could it just be me being paranoid?

Help lovely people?!

 

[Caramelteach]

Well, I'm still having this problem and it's really getting me down. I keep crying and it's all I can think about. Me anxiety is through the roof over it and is preventing me making an appointment. Why does this keep happening to me?

 

[rosie28]

I am sorry I am not a dentist so I can't give you any dentistry advice as such but I can say that I understand what you are going through anxiety wise. I have this one tooth up the top left that has been looked at extensively through a number of x rays and tap tests etc and it is also not in agony as far as pain goes but it just feels so strange compared to my other teeth and it is very hard for me to describe the feeling. I went to the dentist and he told me that it looked like I had a gum infection and that the tooth was just sore because the infection from the gum was putting pressure on the tooth. I took antibiotics and have been having mouth wash and although the infection in the gum has gone, the weird feeling I am getting is still there. Plus on top of all that just two days ago I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my jaw bones which I think gives similar symptoms to TMJ so perhaps what I am feeling in the tooth is from that. I also know what you mean about going back and forth to the dentist and not wanting to bother him. In the past 5 weeks I have been to my dentist 6 times and I have seen 4 specialists. It has been a crazy crazy time.
Again I am sorry I can't give you any specific advice about your tooth but I just want you to know that although we are complete strangers I know how much teeth can bother us day in day out to the point it is all we ever think about.....and the amount of tears I have shed the last few weeks is more than over a lifetime I am sure. Not to mention the amount of misinformation I have gathered from googling which usually just makes my anxiety even worse!!! Hugs and I do prey that you find an answer to fix your tooth problems. xxx

 

[irmemac]

Aww, poor you. It's very frightening, imagining what could be wrong. Before I could cope with going to the dentist at all I used to imagine that if I ever went they'd have to cut out half my jawbone! Seems silly now, but was so real and scary to me then. I'm no dentist, but I wonder if it could be an irritated nerve from the deepness of the filling? I have a tooth that has been filled so deeply that it cannot be filled any more. I get a strange pain in the gum next to it intermittently, and I've had occasional toothache and a random 'throb' in it. I mentioned it to my old dentist and a new dentist I saw briefly recently, and neither could find a reason, despite x-rays to double check. No-one wants to do anything with it until there is a more specific complaint.

Since your dentist is lovely, I'm sure he won't mind having another look. Maybe it can be left. If not, you'll feel so much better when it's death with - and you've got everyone here to support you!

 

[Caramelteach]

Thanks guys,

I know how irrational I'm being, but I just can't help it!

Rosie, goodness me you have been through it you poor thing! I hope things start to improve for you now that you've had that diagnosis. Thank you for your kind words - it's good to know there are other people who know how it feels.

Irmemac, thank you, that made me feel a bit better- it could well be that, seeing as the x ray showed no problems. If it wasn't for that, I think I would be in an even worse state! I can't get an appointment now anyway as they're closed - just wish it would go away and I could have 5 mins peace where I have no teeth issues whatsoever! I've got an appointment on the 24th of this month for an RCT restoration and crown (which, of course, I'm dreading!) so I'm going to try and hold out 'til then I think.

Thank you once again to both of you - that meant a lot.

 

[Caramelteach]

Unfortunately, things seem to be getting a little worse I'm having to take painkillers now and I'm just so scared. Why have all these things been happening with my teeth?!

 

[Caramelteach]

Rang the dentist first thing this morning and I can't be seen until Wednesday afternoon 3 more days of worry and freaking out about what's wrong.

 

[irmemac]

Oh dear, that's the last thing you need. A saying I once heard springs to mind " if it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all!".

However, please try not to worry. I've just reread your original post, and there are several scenarios I can think of ( and I have no dental knowledge beyond my own experience). Your anxiety over the discomfort could be causing you to clench your jaw subconsciously, causing further discomfort. Your old rct could be having a bad week and need some antibiotics, or it could be psychosomatic i.e. worrying about it could be causing the increased symptoms. I hope I don't sound patronising, I'm just trying to think of reasons for the pain getting worse. It's really good that you're going to be able to see someone on Wednesday because your are dealing with it promptly, not avoiding it .

I know from experience how long the time seems when you are in pain. Do painkillers help? All I can suggest to help you keep calm is to perhaps set yourself specific times to worry about your teeth, and then put the lid back on that particular box until later, sometimes that has worked for me. Of course the best advice is to come on here and let people know when you are having wobbly moments. There's always someone who will have a comforting word. Reading some of the success stories is very motivating too.

Hope you find some mental relief until Wednesday .

 

[Caramelteach]

Hi Irmemac and thank you for your kind words.

I know you're more than likely right, I just tend to over-think things unfortunately and have convinced myself I'm going to have to have a root canal or extraction!

I do clench my jaw and wear a mouth splint at night because of it, so I wouldn't be surprised if the stress was making me do it during the day too. It does seem to peak at around 4 o'clock, so I suspect you might be right.

I'm just so fed up with teeth!!!!!!

 

[irmemac]

• Today, 12:04
  Caramelteach
  
  Re: Discomfort in deep filled tooth
  
  
  I know you're more than likely right, I just tend to over-think things unfortunately and have convinced myself I'm going to have to have a root canal or extraction!
  I can really understand that!! You're thinking a little small though.... I used to cry regularly because I thought I had abscesses that had rotted through the jawbone and that I would need to get jaw bone removed. Not a word of exaggeration!! That's how I can sympathise - we really put ourselves through the mill, don't we!!
  
  I'm just so fed up with teeth!!!!!!
  I completely agree. Teeth should be banned!!​

 

[Caramelteach]

Lol, definitely a human design fault!

 

[carole]

Good luck for Wednesday, I hope you can get this sorted out

 

[Caramelteach]

Thanks Carole, so do I!