Teeth advice please!

[Numberedout]

I have just been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia by a neurologist but have been referred for an MRI to be sure.

However, my dentist has found a low level infection right by where I get the electric shocks and he said to have the molar removed. He said the infection is irritating the nerve hence the shocks

After reading about the stories of unnecessary extractions I'm not so sure?

The diagnosis is just saying you have pain originating from that particular cranial nerve. It would be interesting whether he specified which branch (maxillary or mandibular) both of which feedback sensation from the upper and lower jaw.

The MRI is presumably to see what is triggering it.

If you have an infection then there's a good chance that this is the primary cause.

My question to you would be is there any reason you're trying to avoid the extraction? Do you distrust the dentist or do you think n youd like keep the tooth and have an alternative therapy?

I would like to keep the tooth even though it's broken! Also, I don't have any pain where the infection is so am in no rush to have it extracted. Yes, I am also a wimp and hate any kind of surgery.

The shocks are by my eye and cheek.

That sounds like you have the.pain where the three branches merge.

I'd hazard a guess that thr bad tooth is on the upper side of your jaw (maxillary).??

If you have no pain and want to keep the tooth then I'd have the mri done, and then see about the tooth and whether root canal treatment can help you.

In the meantime it may be worth seeing if you can have some.antibiotics to kill that infection. If he said it's an abscess rather than an infection then you may not get a choice.

Thank you for your reply.

Yep that's exactly where the bad tooth is. It's not an abscess, it's a low level infection according to him.

Ok, I'll have the MRI first and take it from there. Will try and keep the tooth as long as I can.

I had thr same diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia was offered an operation but declined due to possible facial paralysis as. Known complication. This was followed by another diagnosis of bone cancer for the same problem. Just before I was meant to start treatment for the diagnosed cancer the specialist suggested removing a tooth which he thought may be contributing to the problems. Had it removed, no more pain, no cancer, and was able to eat solids again. I would say have the tooth out. All my problems were due to an infection under the tooth going into the lower jaw.

That's shocking! I thought a cancer diagnosis would have to be definitive? I'm glad it's sorted for you. Something to think about.