Dentists, gather here, i have to make a quick (before tomorrow 8.00) decision.

[minkymuskyslyoldstoaty]

I have bruxism, and something upsetting happened last week which set off the anxiety.
Upper right tooth root filled many yrs ago, and was mostly a filling, well half of it fell out in May, so it's been covered with some type of filling. Yet it is half a tooth. Now it's been hurting since i started clenching my jaw.

Dentist took an xray yesterday and said no sign of infection and it looks the same as it did 6 months ago. Thinks it could be gum/muscle pain from the bruxism? She tapped all the teeth and nothing made me jump, but the half tooth was a bit painful.

I could have the tooth removed tomorrow, there is an emergency slot. I could leave it a week and go to my appt next tuesday and have it removed if no improvement.

My question is, i guess, can an xray show no infection but there is still something brewing. She wouldn't prescribe antibiotics. Fair enough.

I had another tooth out, it's equivalent on the other upper side in July and the recovery was slow.

If i took it out tomorrow at least i might have some sort of comfortable mouth at xmas.

thankyou dentists, and anyone with thoughts.

wow thankyou.

not sure i trust her lol. yet at the end of the day she can't do magic. ie if she can't see an infection then it must likely be there isn't one.

i would have though a crack would show up?

the pain is up my jaw my ear and under my eye socket this evening.
one thing she did ask was have i had a cold.
oh and one dentist once said my sinuses are very erm near to things?

You can't see cracks on x rays. You can sometimes see them if you take fillings out etc. the issue is that they let bacteria into the tooth. That's what bonzo was talking about.

its the first molar. not got the second anymore.

Still, the wisdom is that you need 20 teeth, ten top and bottom to function. Called the reduced dental arch.

so the crack is probably there and was back in may when she xrayed it.
she said there had been no change in the xrays from then and the current one.

as Bonzo said unless you know what you are looking for.
i guess that saving this tooth is pointless given it's health or condition.

ok. bit scared as had it's counterpart out on the other side in July and that was traumatic. yet that one wasn't root filled. felt a bit rushed on that decision too.
best bite the bullet really.

It's up to you. Ask your dentist some questions tomorrow and remember you're in charge.

Mrsmorton

i have 14 at the bottom, so that is a bonus

it's an emergency appointment so i don't think i can go in tomorrow unless i want it out.
or i give it till next week to have it removed.

thanks all. Bonzo thankyou for your time.

my pleasure. Don't rush the decision if you are not sure. Sounds like you need to have a chat with your dentist.

OP, I have exactly the same problem but slightly further on than you. I developed an occasional searing pain in a heavily filled premolar. I am a terrible clenched and grinder due to pain. I had a thorough exam and X-ray but nothing showed up. Then one day I bit on a seed and the front of the tooth was actually wobbling. It really hurt. I saw an emergency dentist at my practice and he said it was unsavable. He took it out and it was split right into the root.

So now I have a temp denture and awaiting an implant.

Sympathy to you, it's not nice. Im doing Alexander Technique to help with the Bruxism and it helps. Good luck.

Matilda, thankyou for your post, bruxism is really horrible i agree.
I hope you get yours sorted. I can't afford implant but i am lucky that at least this extraction won't be visible, as i have a small smile iyswim.

I have an appt for 12.30 today, it's quite a drive but doable. I shall ask as many questions as i can think of today before we do it.

again thanks for all the advice i received here.x

just to update, it's out.

tooth wasn't much too look at, roots seemed fine tbh but what do i know.

came out in one go, but boy oh boy does the tooth next to hurt now the drugs have worn off.