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

I’d save the tooth if possible. A root canal is expensive but worth it. Extraction should be the very last resort!

Implants are horrendously expensive, far more than root canal treatment.

so sorry Op. I had a tooth break half off (it was the 2nd tooth from the back at the bottom of my mouth).

It didn't hurt and I could still eat on it.

Then dentist 'fixed' it and whilst it was not agony there was just something wrong and niggling at the tooth. It drove me absolutely nuts and I kept poking at it with my tongue. I was back and forward to the dentist about 6 times and they kept filing bits off and tinkering about with it. I finally lost it and told them to take the half filling out of my mouth. As soon as they did that the niggle went away.

They put a temporary filling in it which I had for about a year and my tooth was totally fine. When they came to put another permanent filling into it I was utterly dreading it thinking Oh no here we go again.

Thankfully it was fine 2nd time round.

They too kept telling me to give it a bit longer when it was bothering me. Listen to your gut. You know when something is wrong.

I have the dentist tomorrow for a check-up. Praying nothing needs done. Not cos of the cost (I had to take out private dental insurance as my dentist went private so it is covered anyway) just cos I hate getting things done at the dentist.

You have my full sympathy.

It sounds like the filling is way to I close to the nerve and you need a root canal.

Can you go to a different dentist? The fact they expected you to just go away for another four days with that much pain is shocking.

Don't get it taken out. It can cause bone loss, allow the teeth either side of the gap to move, is unpleasant and it can't be put back. I've got a root canal that was done a decade ago and it's still fine. Definitely worth doing.

Update

Got antibiotics last monday as did xray and said maybe slight infection or could just be inflammation from procedure.

Anyway over last week pain improved by about 70% but still needed painkillers but only a few times a day. Was back on Thursday and because things improving he said that it should be ok now and just needed time

Today though its worse again sore to bite on it and pulsing all time. Had to give in and take painkillers .

Surely by 2 weeks (plus 1 week on antibiotics) things should have resolved. Some of my work colleagues saying to be patient but I dont like relying on painkillers

Would you phone back? I feel like they getting fed up with me

Phone up tomorrow!

update

Did another x ray tooth still has infection still given another week of antibiotics. Got extraction booked for 16th April . Offered root canal but no appointment till mid May and cant bear this any more

Dont want to loose tooth but no choice

That’s a shame-is there no way the root canal appointment couldn’t be brought forward?

Sorry you're still suffering, having an infection is so painful I can understand you wanting it all over with as soon as possible. My own root canal ended up being very much delayed due to the initial referral elsewhere not coming through, but that wasn't a problem once the infection was gone.
I can understand you wanting it all over with as soon as possible, but if you can wait I think root canal might be better overall. I think it's about ten years since mine was done and I've had no more problems with that tooth.
What did your dentist recommend? Or did they just give you the options?

Ask the dentist if they can treat with an antiseptic or antibiotic paste directly to the root area (mine done this by drilling through then applying an antiseptic- then putting a temporary filling on the tooth) - it's a temporary measure to calm everything while waiting for root canal - I've had 2 like this and it removes the pain for months.

This is really good advice.

I had a very very expensive root canal by a world famous dentist and he actually added something like this inside the tooth which is still there, over a decade ago.

Op please try to save the tooth if you can afford to. Take more antibiotics and codeine in the meantime, may isn't that far away.

Final update tooth ended up getting removed.

Sorry to hear that, shame you had to lose it but hope you’re feeling comfortable now.