don't know what to do anymore :'(

[vicki]

No, you're not necessarily going to the wrong type of dentist, it's just that it can be difficult to pin down exactly what's going on sometimes. Because of the way that the nerves run in the mouth, sometimes pain in one tooth can spread to other teeth and so it seems as though several teeth are painful - this is known as referred pain. In order to find out what's going on with your teeth, there are various tests that your dentist will do such as tapping on them or blowing cold air on them, to try and identify where the pain is coming from.

As brit has also said, you can only get GA in hospitals in the UK and not in dental surgeries (the link that you saw earlier in this thread is actually to a dental clinic which is based in a hospital, which is why they are able to provide GA).

The reason for this is that when a patient has a general anaesthetic, they are unconscious and so need to be connected to various pieces of equipment such as ventilators and heart monitors, to breathe for them and monitor their vital signs. This equipment and the specialist staff (i.e. anaesthetists) are only available in hospital. A combination of intravenous drugs and gases are used in GA and you can go to 'sleep' with either an injection or breathing gas.

What you can get at some dental surgeries, is IV sedation. In order to provide IV sedation, the dentist has usually undergone specialist training in sedation techniques, or sometimes they may bring in a doctor (e.g. an anaesthetist) to do it instead. IV sedation uses a drug which sedates you but doesn't make you fully unconscious, so you are still able to breathe for yourself and also co-operate with what the dentist says.

There are various levels of IV sedation, ranging from relaxed but aware of what's going on, to quite deeply sedated and unaware (but still conscious) - this is why some people sometimes get it confused with GA. IV sedation is given via an injection. If needles bother you, there are various creams that can be applied to numb the skin and some dental surgeries also offer 'Inhalation sedation' to relax you first. Inhalation sedation involves breathing a mixture of Nitrous Oxide and Oxygen and it produces a relaxed and dream-like feeling, but you are still aware of what's going on around you.

 

[45andAfraid]

Sinus pain can cause teeth pain. I'm also a sufferer of sinusitis and sometimes I have such sinus pain, my teeth actually HURT!

Had a guy here at work that went to the dentist because he was in pain. Dentist found nothing wrong with his teeth and SUGGESTED he see an ear/nose/throat doctor who found that he, indeed, had a sinus infection.

I had pain in my ear canal, and back of my throat. Not from sinuses but from my teeth needing attention. So one can trick the other.

Pain in and around the face are all connected. Try just going to a general practitioner and tell him you've already been to the dentist but you still feel pain. You could have some other related problem.

 

[WouldRatherBeShot]

No, you're not necessarily going to the wrong type of dentist, it's just that it can be difficult to pin down exactly what's going on sometimes. Because of the way that the nerves run in the mouth, sometimes pain in one tooth can spread to other teeth and so it seems as though several teeth are painful - this is known as referred pain. In order to find out what's going on with your teeth, there are various tests that your dentist will do such as tapping on them or blowing cold air on them, to try and identify where the pain is coming from.

They tapped... And said I had sensitive teeth. 2nd time round I told them about the toothbrush and they thought I had taken the enamel off. Not a very conclusive test IMO?

As brit has also said, you can only get GA in hospitals in the UK and not in dental surgeries (the link that you saw earlier in this thread is actually to a dental clinic which is based in a hospital, which is why they are able to provide GA).

Ohhh I see :/

 

[WouldRatherBeShot]

Sinus pain can cause teeth pain. I'm also a sufferer of sinusitis and sometimes I have such sinus pain, my teeth actually HURT!

Had a guy here at work that went to the dentist because he was in pain. Dentist found nothing wrong with his teeth and SUGGESTED he see an ear/nose/throat doctor who found that he, indeed, had a sinus infection.

I had pain in my ear canal, and back of my throat. Not from sinuses but from my teeth needing attention. So one can trick the other.

Pain in and around the face are all connected. Try just going to a general practitioner and tell him you've already been to the dentist but you still feel pain. You could have some other related problem.

Unless Ive had a Sinus infection for the last few years...... Its wishful thinking.

 

[45andAfraid]

Not necessarily saying it's a sinus infection, it could be some other related thing.... like I was told by my general practitioner.... the face nerves are all connected and you can be tricked into thinking one thing when it's something totally different.

Sensitive teeth? I got that too! Can't breathe in cold air, can't drink cold drinks (must be room temperature). I use Sensodyne Rapid Relief but doesn't do any good. So I keep my mouth shut and drink room temp or hot drinks only...

Really hope you find your actual cause soon.

 

[WouldRatherBeShot]

Sensitive teeth? I got that too! Can't breathe in cold air, can't drink cold drinks (must be room temperature). I use Sensodyne Rapid Relief but doesn't do any good. So I keep my mouth shut and drink room temp or hot drinks only...

Really hope you find your actual cause soon.

You too. Sucks having toothache.

 

[brit]

Erm... How do I find someone specialised to tell me what the problem is? Am i going to the wrong type of dentists?

Have read Vicki's reply and agree with it BUT yes you could be going to the wrong type of dentist. You need an experienced dentist who has at least 30 minutes to spend and a good x-ray machine to evaluate all your issues i.m.o. (hint that probably means you need to see a competent private dentist).

You have been suffering for long enough and are likely just being fobbed off with the sensitive teeth issue by your current dentist. Enamel wear could be part of it in which case you should be using the special pastes but there could be other things going on too including sinus involvement.

Has your current dentist done x-rays of your whole mouth? If not why not if you have generalised pain?

If a General Dentist who has done a full evaluation remains baffled, you see an Oral Surgeon with an even better x-ray machine...and then when he says it is not the teeth but something else or it is just generalised sensitivity...you finally believe them.

 

[WouldRatherBeShot]

Have read Vicki's reply and agree with it BUT yes you could be going to the wrong type of dentist. You need an experienced dentist who has at least 30 minutes to spend and a good x-ray machine to evaluate all your issues i.m.o. (hint that probably means you need to see a competent private dentist).

You have been suffering for long enough and are likely just being fobbed off with the sensitive teeth issue by your current dentist. Enamel wear could be part of it in which case you should be using the special pastes but there could be other things going on too including sinus involvement.

Has your current dentist done x-rays of your whole mouth? If not why not if you have generalised pain?

If a General Dentist who has done a full evaluation remains baffled, you see an Oral Surgeon with an even better x-ray machine...and then when he says it is not the teeth but something else or it is just generalised sensitivity...you finally believe them.

My dentist is private. And ive had xrays of my whole mouth but they have said (more than once) that there is no problems with my teeth. Before my current dentist I had to always see the emergency one, and they def fob you off...

 

[vicki]

If you're not convinced by your dentist's diagnosis, what about either seeking a second opinion from someone else in the same practice (someone more experienced), or you could go for a second opinion somewhere else?

As part of a new patient consultation at a different dental practice, they should also take x-rays. Following the appointment, you can then decide what you want to do next (i.e. whether you want to stay at the current place or go somewhere else).

 

[45andAfraid]

Very curious about how things are going with you mate? Concerned you haven't posted in a while.

Have you found anyone else who can help you?