Intermittant pain - what to expect

[mirla]

I've been having intermittant pain for quite a while.  Lately, it seems to be getting worse, but that might just be because I'm no longer taking an Ibruproffin every couple of days.  Nothing in particular seems to trigger it, and it doesn't always occur at the same location.  Right now, it seems to be mostly at the extraction site of my lower left wisdom tooth, which I had removed about six months ago, but there's a bit of pain a couple of teeth over, and sometimes it's on the top, and sometimes it's even on the right side of my mouth.

The pain is fairly dull, and seems to be helped if I either rinse with mouthwash, or massage my gum, ir stick my fingernail between two of my teeth (not always the same two).  It also sometimes helps to eat something, or just move my jaw.  Nothing seems to work 100% of the time, however, and since it normally only hurts for a few minutes, it might just be a coincidence.  I'm also currently feeling a bit of a tingly feeling in my left cheek.  

I don't expect you to be able to diagnose this over the internet, but I'm having problems getting myself ready to call my dentist.  I keep having a vision that they'll say they don't know what it is and recommend doing root canals starting with the most bothersome tooth.  It's not so much the prospect of having a root canal, but just the feeling that they'll do it and I'll still hurt afterwards.

So, I guess my question is what can I expect if I see the Dentist about this?  I've prepped for other work by reading up on the internet, but I'm not finding descriptions of pain like mine. What should I know before I go?  What questions should I expect they will ask?  Is there any way they would know that I need a root canal?  Is there anything you can say to calm my nerves enough to dial the phone?

Thank you!

 

[Gordon]

You would need a lot more indicators than that to start off on endos, from those kind of vague symptoms I'd be looking at some kind of parafunctional activity like grinding/clenching or maybe something a bit "off" in your bite.
You'd probably need some new x-rays taken to see what's going on in a bit more detail in the general area.

 

[Waiting]

Hi Mirla,

It does sound a bit like some form of tmj, perhaps clenching. I have random pain on the left side of my jaw/neck that varies and is less frequent now since I had my wisdoms out (I used to associate it with my wisdom teeth... it used to be more regularly sore but now is more sharp pains). I have had braces and wear a mouthguard and I'm sure all of that plays its role into what my muscles are doing back there.

My dentist has suggested keeping an eye on that and perhaps later being fit with a different kind of mouthguard (one that helps with clenching - i.e. a split perhaps). I do know that I grind, so that could also be a problem for you. So definitely see a dentist and describe the pain as best you can.

 

[mirla]

Just an update. My pain got worse and worse. Nothing cut it. I was taking Prescription Ibruprofin and something perscription left over from the last time I complained. I still wanted to die. Monday I called in, and was given an appointment for Friday, but I asked them to put me on the list if there were any cancelations. By the time we hit Wednesday (when my daughter had an appointment to have her teeth sealed, I had an appointment for Thursday morning. When I showed up, with my glass of cold water because that helped, they said they were trying to fill a spot that freed up that afternoon, and asked if I wanted it. They didn't need to ask twice.

Thursday afternoon, they had a hard time diagnosing it because it was so vague, and none of my teeth really hurt. Just vague pain over my jaws, going back to my left ear, and a headache in the back of my head. They tried to do X-rays, but couldn't get the roots. I had a hard time getting my mouth open. It felt very stiff. And I had to keep asking for my water cup to relieve the pain.

Finally, they got one good X-ray that showed an abcess below one of my teeth. They also suspected the one beside it, and the one above it. I was told I would probably need three root canals. They called all over looking for an endodontist who could see me quickly. Since there are only four in town, and one just retired, and one was on vacation, the other two were double-booked until next week. They tried calling the very fine University the next town over, but decided this would not be the best for the crying wreck before them (They are very good at their work, but it is one big open room and they are not well known for bedside manner). They finally found a place in that town (30 minute drive) that was more private and they said they were good with anxious people. I now had an appointment for Friday noon.

The Dentist sent me home with a prescription for Tylenol with Codeine. I took some, because I was in a lot of pain. Shortly thereafter, I started having serious pain in my upper abdomin and lower chest. I also started shaking uncontrolably and felt clammy. My hubby drove me to the Emergency room, where they thought it was just a bad reaction (not an allergy) and an anxiety attack. They gave me a shot of Benodryl, another shot of Valium, made sure I was feeling better, than sent me on my way. I did sleep very well that night (codeine, valium, and benodryl), and I don't remember much of what happened after I got back into the car to go home.

Anyway, today the endodontist called and said they had a cancellation in the afternoon, and asked if I wanted it. They didn't need to ask twice.

By this point, my general jaw/mounth pain had gone away, and it just really hurt to bite on that one tooth (the one with the big shadow under it on the X-ray). I found it odd that that tooth seemed to be the first one that hit anything.

The Endodontist was very nice, and took time to listen to me. He did some tests, and took some more X-rays. Long story short, only the tooth that really looked bad in the X-ray needed to be done. Between the big black shadow on the X-ray, and the now-localized pain, I felt pretty confident that I really needed the root canal. He had also told me that my tooth had raised because of the abcess, and that it was normal for a lower tooth to cause generalized pain that later becomes localized. They went ahead and did part of it (they need to go back in later because there was too much infection).

All in all, not a bad experience.

Thank you for all your support, everybody!