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Eight Months of Tooth Pain... Mystery

C

Cici1986

Junior member
Joined
Aug 30, 2021
Messages
10
Location
London
I have a massive fear of the dentist every year I need so much work its like my issues go unhidden and then all come out at once. I have tears in my eyes as I sit in the chair each time. I am very down depressed and have no idea where to turn to.

Currently I am dealing with one tooth. This all started after grinding, clenching and cracking my teeth together (I have a night guard but I also do this in the day). I managed to crack 3 teeth resulting in 2 fillings and another root canal (it took 3 dentists to spot the cracks and a few horrible months of pain).

This particular tooth now is molar LR6, six dentists have seen this tooth. The last dentist who is specialising in endodontics also did not believe there was anything wrong. At first he turned me away then replaced the filling as he believed it could be that, there were a few cracks inside the tooth. Then agreed to do a root canal (as I still had pain) which when he opened the tooth found it was infected. Dentist explained it was not showing on the X-ray as i have 4 roots 2 were hiding, however only 1 canal was infected. Didn't work, got reinfected. Then redid and again the same thing happened.

However, the pain was nothing like my other root canals. I could even feel the files moving the roots (in one root particular) in the gums and thats what seemed to ache and hurt me. there was no relief of pain after the nerve was removed.

it's been 2 weeks now no change in pain from the original pain. although, when I had both root canal treatments the tooth at first (1/2 weeks) felt like fire and throbbed of a pain level I can not even explain. My pain it's spontaneous, its always present. Dull, aching and throbbing. Sometimes it's at a level 3 then its at a level 10. My jaw seems to ache with it too. The pain now seems to be traveling up to my front teeth, my whole mouth feels painful when the tooth is at a level 10. It also feels like something is moving under the tooth like a bubble. Food seems to set it off or drinking even brushing my teeth. My gum is often inflamed around that tooth too. I keep trying to explain this but no one really seems to know what it could be. it also hurts when you push the tooth from the side (not from the top). As I have had so many cracks I have asked if the tooth might have a fracture in the root. I get "no I do not believe this tooth is fractured at the root". I am pretty much loosing my mind as it's been 8 months of pain going back and forth. I am taking so many pain killers I feel very ill. I have another appointment again in a week. I just wondered if anyone had any experience of these kinds of symptoms? Thank you so much.
 

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Cracked teeth are horrible things to diagnose and treat. If the root canal hasn't worked (and that looks a very good one) then last ditch would be to fit a crown over it and see if that helps by holding it together. A preformed stainless steel one would do for a quick, cheap test.
 
Thank you for your reply Gordon I appreciate it. I definitely think the dentist has been doing everything to save my tooth which I respect. Unfortunately the pain is just getting too much, if the pain hurt only when I bit I might be able to cope.

I just feel my gum is completely inflamed always and almost like there is a gap between the tooth and gum/jawbone (that has bizarrely got bigger) letting food in. I just had some chilli and the tooth and jaw were on fire again.

Do you think a crown would help with the jawbone pain as it feels like electric zapping down often too? Or is it just trial and see. Is there anything else it could be other than a crack? to be honest I’ve prepared myself mentally for an implant but fear what if the pain is still there if I was to remove the tooth.

Thank you C
 
Do you think a crown would help with the jawbone pain as it feels like electric zapping down often too? Or is it just trial and see. Is there anything else it could be other than a crack? to be honest I’ve prepared myself mentally for an implant but fear what if the pain is still there if I was to remove the tooth.

I'm afraid it's a try it and see job. IF it's a crack and IF the crown will help then it'll sort out all the pain. If it isn't then you're back to square one again I'm afraid.
 
@Gordon

AFternoon Dr. Gordon

If i may chime in and ask a pointed question about RCT.
Why is it that im reading (and also from personal history of failed rct-extraction #19) that often times they do not work? It seems from all of my reading that its a real roll of the dice, so many unknowns, missed canals, etc.

My diagnosis was cracked tooth syndrome #31. Endo said no infection nor inflammation, yet because of my symptoms, the nerve is dying slowly and that rc is recommended.

Qtn: Can i ride this out as long as i can? Going on a year

#30 extraction last may damaged this #31 and basically no real chewing going on x 1yr now. Im ok with it though , as i have only this molar left on this side. Are all RC created equally?

Thanks in advance
 
If i may chime in and ask a pointed question about RCT.
Why is it that im reading (and also from personal history of failed rct-extraction #19) that often times they do not work? It seems from all of my reading that its a real roll of the dice, so many unknowns, missed canals, etc.
The overwhelming majority of RCTs work fine, it's just more common to report on the ones that don't.
A quick Google suggests:
"According to the most credible academic studies, an endodontic success rate of 89% to 94% should be expected from conventional root-canal therapy. This number varies slightly based on the pulpal and periapical statuses of the tooth at the time of treatment."

Missed canals are rare, most RCTs are done on incisor/canine/premolar teeth which generally have a single canal.
With more dentists using magnification routinely now, as well as big advances in the technology available to do RCTs the number of failed cases is decreasing.

My diagnosis was cracked tooth syndrome #31. Endo said no infection nor inflammation, yet because of my symptoms, the nerve is dying slowly and that rc is recommended.

Qtn: Can i ride this out as long as i can? Going on a year
Sure you can. Depends on your appetite for risk, do you want to deal with it at a time/place convenient for you or when your tooth decides for you? :)
 
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