Is there a dentist in the house?

[Judydreamsofhorses]

Hello, I'm hoping for a bit of reassurance if anyone can help.

A few months ago I cracked a huge filling in a lower molar - I've been grinding my teeth at night due to stress as my partner is currently out of work - which the dentist re-built, but it later became infected. I had root canal on it three weeks ago, but the dentist could only find two canals - she gave me the option of having it extracted, carrying on, or seeing an endontist privately, and I opted to carry on. I went back a week later and she adjusted my bite, then last week to get fitted for a crown. Last week it was still tender, so she decided to delay the crown to next week, and smoothed the bite again.

Something has gone wrong, and the tooth - which had been pretty calm - has flared up. It's sensitive to heat. I'm going back tomorrow, but what really worries me is that all my front teeth are now heat sensitive and aching. Those are "virgin" teeth and have never had any work done, or previously been painful. Reading online suggests heat sensitivity means the nerves have died - how can this suddenly happen in teeth which until Saturday had been perfectly fine with never even a twinge? Could the molar be infected again and that referring to other teeth?

Long story, sorry, but I am terrified I am going to need my front teeth out. I can live without the molar, but not with no front teeth! My teeth generally look good and the dentist said just a few weeks ago that my front teeth were very strong.

(I gave now been fitted with a bite guard thing to help with the clenching and grinding.)

Thanks for reading if you have, and again, apologies that was so long.

Most likely referred pain at the front. Try not to worry.

Re the recent root-treated molar becoming symptomatic; this doesn't sound good. I definitely wouldn't proceed with the crown (& cost of a crown) unless the tooth is successfully root filled (all canals). This will probably mean the specialist option which will be costly or have the tooth extracted.

user thanks so much for your post - I am so scared of losing my front teeth! Is it possible for the pain to "travel" that far? I swear, they have never given me a minute's grief before the last few days and there are no signs of decay on any of them.

Re the molar, I suspect it will have to go, which is a pain as I had the one in front extracted about ten years back after repeated abscesses/RCT/crown and it eventually flaring up. I was quoted £500 plus crown for the specialist, which I would have to put on my credit card because things are a bit tight with only one income currently.

It probably is referred pain. I had a bad infection that seemed to flare up overnight in my wisdom tooth (bottom left) all the way across to about half way of my bottom teeth/jaw was killing me. Dentist told me that because infection had caused swelling it was pressing on nerves which is what was causing the pain. Since the infection has gone I've had no issues

Update - I went to the dentist and immediately burst into tears, blathering on about losing my front teeth and needing dentures. For shame. Anyway, she was SO lovely and told me that she could practically guarantee there was nothing wrong with my front teeth. She examined me, said they were in perfect nick, and explained how the nerve works. I was given the option of having the molar re-treated with RC, or extracted, and have opted to have it pulled. She's given me a course of antibiotics to try to settle it and I'm booked in for the 28th to have it out - but can ring in for an emergency appointment sooner if I need to. I am not looking forward to the extraction - she said she thought the top of the tooth would come off and the roots have to be taken out separately - but am relieved to know it is going, tbh. I am so grateful that my dentist is so kind and patient. (Although with the benefit of hindsight wish I had had the bloody thing out instead of shelling out for the root canal and it still be bothering me now!)

Your dentist sounds very nice; good luck OP!

Just coming back to this thread and hoping for some further reassurance. The molar came out on Friday - according to the dentist it was quick, but it felt like it took forever, with a lot of pushing and pulling, and in bits.

I'm still not very comfortable at all, and my front teeth are still aching and sore - if I touch my chin at that side, it tingles in my lip. Could I still be getting referred pain/nerve pain now the molar is gone? The teeth on the other side of the "midline" are fine. I am back at the dentist on Friday to check everything's okay but am really scared and worried.