Neuralgia flareup or tooth problem?

[Judythecat]

I have a diagnosis of atypical facial pain, which is mainly around the left side of my mouth. It’s been fairly quiet lately. I don’t take medication, which was suggested by my consultant at Maxillo Facial, and just try to manage it. I freak out when the pain moves about.

Last Friday I had a tiny white filling replaced on my upper front left tooth. The filling was originally placed about ten years ago because of scrubbing away the enamel with over-brushing, no decay. It had discoloured a bit, but the procedure was a cosmetic choice rather than medically necessary, there was still no decay. The dentist smoothed it off with no anaesthetic, and it took about 20 seconds, then refilled it. She also did a scale and polish. Today the tooth is really sore, but I also have the burning/pins and needles feeling I get with the atypical facial pain.

I know no-one can really advise without seeing me, but presumably the tooth’s nerve is not on the front of the enamel, and this is just my facial nerves rather than a problem with the tooth? If the filling had fallen out would I have pain when there was no decay?

I really don’t want to bother the dentist by going back because I know they are short staffed with holidays/maternity leave. I’m on three monthly checkups because of the AFP, and my last one in April was clear, with gum scores of 0 and 1. My next checkup is booked for October but I know my dentist will slot me in sooner for pain (they have pain slots every day). I really don’t want to be a pest though.

Here are my teeth, it’s the front right in this photo, but really front left. (This is the tooth that the AFP started in, and my dentist eventually referred me to hospital because I kept going in with pain, and no clinical cause was ever found.)

 

[Paige2018]

It could be irritated by the procedure, but do not hesitate to contact your dentist if you are still in pain. You have to take care of you! Wishing you all the best!

 

[comfortdentist]

Could be a coincidence. Neuralgia isn’t well understood and there is a tendency to be variable in intensity and areas affected

 

[Judythecat]

Thanks for replies - the pain has spread to the premolar, so I assume it is the neuralgia. It sounds daft but I always feel reassured when multiple teeth hurt, because I figure the chances of them all suddenly going bad simultaneously is nil!

 

[Judythecat]

I think I might ring and see if I can get an appointment for peace of mind. The tooth seems temperature sensitive, which it wasn’t before. Could I have brushed the filling out? But given there was no decay would that cause pain? I am so embarrassed to phone.

 

[Enarete]

If there is some exposed dentine, which on areas that suffered overbrushing often is the case, there can be sensitivity. Of course not a dentist and not sure whether this can apply to you or not.
You seem to be so lovely mindful about your dentist's time and capacities now during holidays and I totally get you not wanting to bother (again), but if you are in pain then calling them would be the only right thing (which is easier said than done, I know).

 

[Judythecat]

If there is some exposed dentine, which on areas that suffered overbrushing often is the case, there can be sensitivity. Of course not a dentist and not sure whether this can apply to you or not.
You seem to be so lovely mindful about your dentist's time and capacities now during holidays and I totally get you not wanting to bother (again), but if you are in pain then calling them would be the only right thing (which is easier said than done, I know).

I feel so embarrassed to ring - my partner has said he will call, but I think that is more embarrassing! I hate the phone a thousand times more than I am bothered by the dentist! But, I am going to ring tomorrow. My dentist doesn’t work on a Monday, which was my excuse for not phoning today. I’m back at work next week so hopefully she might be able to slot me in this week. I am going to say “I had a filling replaced by (dentist) a couple of weeks ago, and the tooth is super-sensitive. I wondered if I might be able to make an appointment to check that everything’s okay, please?”. I wish I could do it by email.

 

[Enarete]

I feel so embarrassed to ring - my partner has said he will call, but I think that is more embarrassing! I hate the phone a thousand times more than I am bothered by the dentist! But, I am going to ring tomorrow. My dentist doesn’t work on a Monday, which was my excuse for not phoning today. I’m back at work next week so hopefully she might be able to slot me in this week. I am going to say “I had a filling replaced by (dentist) a couple of weeks ago, and the tooth is super-sensitive. I wondered if I might be able to make an appointment to check that everything’s okay, please?”. I wish I could do it by email.

Not sure whether this strong sense of embarrassment comes from or what do you picture might happen / might they think, but I can tell you that people (mothers, daughters, husbands, wives, spouses) calling for other people (daughters, mothers, wives, husbans, spouses) is very very common and nothing embarrassing. The receptionist in your practice will most likely handle this as a routine and be only focused on handling the schedule properly as this is what she does. There are so many people calling every day, you or your husband will be just another call (don't mean to make you smaller but I realized that 'I am just a number' sometimes helps to reframe things). Sending you good thoughts and keeping my fingers crossed for you to get the appointment, no matter who calls

 

[Judythecat]

Not sure whether this strong sense of embarrassment comes from or what do you picture might happen / might they think, but I can tell you that people (mothers, daughters, husbands, wives, spouses) calling for other people (daughters, mothers, wives, husbans, spouses) is very very common and nothing embarrassing. The receptionist in your practice will most likely handle this as a routine and be only focused on handling the schedule properly as this is what she does. There are so many people calling every day, you or your husband will be just another call (don't mean to make you smaller but I realized that 'I am just a number' sometimes helps to reframe things). Sending you good thoughts and keeping my fingers crossed for you to get the appointment, no matter who calls

In 2017 I had almost 50 appointments - that was before I had the neuralgia diagnosed, and I was going there with pain ALL the time. I did have a couple of treatments in that time which I think triggered the nerve issues, but prior to that had only had six month checkups/scale and polish for about ten years. I started to feel like the receptionists were laughing at me, and that I was a time-waster because no cause was being found for my pain. I am sure, logically, that wasn’t the case, and everyone was always kind and patient, but that’s why I feel so embarrassed.

Anyway, the good news is that I had a missed call from the dentist earlier, saying approval for my new night guard is in. I need to ring back and make an appointment for impressions, so I will ask if she can tag on a quick check of the tooth then.

Now they have asked me to phone, I feel fine about it.