Dental - should I wait it out

[Elliejane]

Hi

I would like some advice if possible to see if I am being unreasonable . I started feeling pain a few months ago on my 2nd back lower molar (it already has large filling about half the tooth years ago). Dentist confirmed it had some decay and would need to remove existing filling and then see how bad it was if it needed root canal or an extraction.

Anyway on Monday i had filling removed but the receptionist had not allowed enough space in his diary so he put I think some sort of temp filling . No root canal was done but he said he has removed all decay . I needed 2 injections to numb as it was so close to root a deep filling.

He said i would have some sensitivity and pain this week but it should resolve in 7 days . Next stage if no issues after a week was a permanent crown in 8 weeks time.

However every day I have been in significant pain since injection wore off with no improvement on day 5 now. My pain is on tooth itself (throbbing and aching ), in my cheek and lower jaw (i can feel it very tender to touch my cheek and jaw like someone punched me) radiates to chin and ear and even when i swallow. I also have a ulcer next to tooth that was filled on gum that stings so much.

I went back to see my dentist on Wed who basically said wait another 4 days as I said it would be sore.

He thinks my muscle in jaw might be damaged due to 2 injections and tooth is sore because it was close to root and not necessary have any issues. With the ulcer he asked if I had put anything on gum but all I have used is genigel which I used before many times with no issues so I cant think it is that . Could it be trauma from the filling ?

He said no point taking tooth out as would only make my muscle pain worse and would be more pain .

I am not sure if this is normal or is it the tooth causing it all . I wish i had it removed now and that would been the end of it .

What should I do next . I am worried its not improving and living on painkillers every few hrs is not something I can continue .

I cant sleep and their is not even slight improvement since it was done

No advice to offer other than try and sleep propped up rather than flat, cold flannel on the outside of swollen area helps as does gargling with salt water - suffered horrendous pain during lockdown but thankfully this did the trick eventually. Childbirth is definitely preferable 🫣

I would say speak to another dentist but we all know what that's like these days.

No way I'd put up with that. Tell him to take it out. I'd expect soreness from the injections, my gobs a bugger for them but that doesn't sound right. Does my head in when they insist on fucking about with root canals. Is the price the same for a root canal as it is for an extraction?

It sounds awful, I sympathise as I know how painful toothache is.
It sounds like a lot of pain considering he thinks it'll get better.
Have you tried Oil of Cloves? That usually helps, and as pp said, gargling with salt water.
I do hope you get relief very soon.

I would go back to the dentist today and sit in the waiting room until you are able to be seen. Hopefully they’ll have a cancellation.

Get them to check it again. I had a root canal and it got infected and it was over a four day bank holiday weekend and I literally wanted to die the pain was so bad. I got co-codomol for the pain via 111 in the end, but it got worse not better until I was seen by dentist again 4 days later. There is nothing worse than tooth pain. If they can’t see you today, ask them for a recommendation for a dentist open over the weekend. Hopefully it will resolve itself and start to feel better, but at least have backup incase the pain gets worse over the weekend. If it’s infected you may need antibiotics, the dentist can prescribe those. Good luck, I feel for you

Get that fucker extracted.

If you can afford to, I would see another private dentist for a second opinion.

If you can, go see a private dentist. I had root canal problems, and while my NHS dentist did her best, she didn't have the more specialised equipment that was needed to see what was really going on in the depths.

For short term pain relief try ibuprofen and codeine, you can buy it over the counter, it’s really good for toothache and as said before, gargle with saltwater several times a day.
Has the dentist suggested antibiotics at all?, I had really severe pain which I thought was from a tooth but turned out to be an infection in the roots

• some pharmacists can prescribe them now I believe.

I had terrible toothache. Waited 4 days to see the NHS dentist who said I had bruised the root! I was so sore I saw a private dentist the same day who did an X-ray and the tooth was knackered and decayed. They took it out there and then!!!! So much relief. If you can afford a private opinion I would go for it as the NHS just don’t have the time to investigate things properly. The NHS urgent appointment was scheduled to only last 15 minutes whereas the private was for 30 so investigations were undertaken. I don’t knock the NHS but I am saving all I can at the moment so I can keep going private. Not cheap!!!!!!! Good luck but don’t leave it till the weekend when they may well be closed.

Depending where you live, try Emerdency.

My dentist is private 😩. There is no nhs at all where i live . Tried today but no have to call back monday as he not work Fridays

I am already on max pain relief now

Will try the sleeping upright tips though

I really want to just remove it now . If I could I would . My husband no sympathy said shpuld just said take it out on monday but ok to say in hindsight

Have you tried some oragel? The red one, it might help numb it up. Use cold not heat. The cold shrinks the blood vessels away from where the pain is

When you're sat in front of the dentist, tell him you're not leaving until it's been taken out. In all honesty I'd try and get in as an emergency somewhere.

Please don’t use Oil of Cloves that someone recommended.

I am worried about the pain in my cheek and jaw too . Worrying that the muscle is damaged and even if they remove tooth that will still stay sore.

Surely an injection site pain cant last this long and it must be related to the tooth

I feel because there is no visible swelling it is not taken seriously.

Iced tonight , gargled with salt, max pain killers , gel on tooth and still my cheek is aching so much. Rubbing on ibuprofen gel too on cheek.

Even asked chatgpt for help and to be fair it’s pretty good with advice . Said advocate for yourself and just because no visible swelling does not mean no infection. Its feel so swollen to me can hardly touch it feels like a bad bruise would.

😟

Phone Helios they sell homeopathic remedies. They are amazing for pain. Explain your problem and they'll send you the remedies 1st class in the post.

Gum ulcers can cause significant pain. You could ask a pharmacist or your dentist for some dexamethasone mouth wash (steroid mouth wash) - this stuff is amazing for any sort of mouth sore. I also recommend difflam spray - which is an anti-inflammatory, anaesthetising mouth spray, available over the counter.

As amazing as clove oil is, I would stay away from it if you have gum damage because the risk of chemically burning yourself is too high.

@Elliejane “Rubbing on ibuprofen gel too on cheek.”

I’ve had zero success with ibuprofen gel, I just take the tablets. If you’ve had a meal, 400 or 600mg will be fine.
When I went over on my ankle, my doctor said take 800mg 4x per day.
Ibuprofen can also be safely taken with paracetamol. Obviously, I’m not a doctor!

Really struggling now pain is increasing . Never been so glad to loose an hour. I really hope something is done on Monday.

I really feel for you @Elliejane. I’ve had ongoing issues with the same tooth and it’s painful and frustrating. Could you call 111 and see if there is an out of hours gp who could prescribe stronger pain meds? Then dentist first thing tomorrow for emergency appt.

Everyone saying “just take it out”, if you’ve been in that situation, what did you do after extraction? I understand that implants are ££££ so I’m waiting for an appt for yet another root canal treatment to try to save the tooth, but if there’s a better option, I’d love to hear it!

My dentist emergency helpline says only to phone if you are bleeding or have visible swelling . I could just cry

A lot of implants have the back history of filling, bigger filling, root canal, crown, extraction.
If a tooth seems troublesome, often the root canal could be wasted money. Certainly that was my experience.
Implant is not cheap, and takes months. I’m abroad but paid @ €3500 in Germany for a molar. It can be gotten cheaper elsewhere.
After years of issues and expense with the original tooth, I wish I’d just gone extraction and implant, and saved the whole root canal failure ordeal and cost.
I’m not a dentist, and that was my only root canal experience. Root canals are usually successful.

Right now I would pull it myself if I knew how . I am thinking to try to phone that number anyway . Why do they only help if you have swelling ?

Maybe it indicates infection which they can give antibiotics for?
I know dentists would be unwilling to do major work on a new patient on a Sunday. I expect best you can hope for is anesthetic and more powerful painkillers.
You can mix painkillers as I previously mentioned, seek advice.

I desperately needed a root canal and had to save up to go private. Years of pain before that.

Got antibiotics today and back Thursday if no change