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What could this be? Possibly dental related?

21 replies

wallowboor · 17/07/2020 21:13

Hello,

In March I had a filling (I actually had 9 fillings and a root canal) - one of the fillings was done in my bottom molar (next to pre molar) and I was advised by the dentist that the filling might not be enough and to keep an eye on it as it may need root canal. I then had quite bad pain in this tooth during lockdown. So I presume it does, indeed, need root canal. Was prescribed antibiotics by dentist. Pain has mostly stopped in this tooth since taking the antibiotics. It occasionally niggles but isn't too painful and very infrequent.

I also clench my teeth. Day and night. Worse at night. I was waking up in such bad pain because of this recently that I ordered a mouth guard. I still clench but it's certainly helped and I have a lot less pain.

My bite also isn't quite right. Not sure why, whether it's due to all the dental work I had in March, maybe a filling isn't quite sitting right or perhaps it's because of the clenching.

Now, my issue is that I'm getting pain underneath my chin and lower jaw. I can't feel anything to touch. But it's irritating and can be painful. Again, it's infrequent and not constant. It happens maybe 5-6 times a day, for usually only a few minutes at a time but can sometimes be a bit longer.

I want to assume that this is due to my unresolved dental issues listed above, so the root canal that is needed, the teeth clenching and the bite problem. But is it possible to have this pain under my jaw and chin without actually having any tooth pain? (as I said, the tooth pain pretty much went away after taking the antibiotics) but this pain under the jaw/chin has lingered.

I had a health scare recently too and I have health anxiety, so can't help worrying.

OP posts:
wallowboor · 17/07/2020 21:19

Also just to add: I have a dermoid cyst just a little bit lower down, midline of the neck, so just below where I get the under lower jaw and chin pain. Said cyst has been giving me a lot of grief recently, but my GP reckons that it wouldn't be causing the pain under the chin/jaw because the cyst isnt connected to any of the surrounding structures.

It's been hard working out what pain has been caused by the cyst and what pain has been caused by my dental issues. I seem to be going round in circles and all I want is either my GP or dentist to just help me resolve this after 4 bloody months.

OP posts:
wallowboor · 17/07/2020 21:21

One more thing to add: sorry, if anyone has actually read this far. The pain that I get under my lower jaw and chin, can sometimes be on the right side. It's central under the chin but can also be on the right and left side. (The molar that needs a root canal is on the left)

OP posts:
wallowboor · 17/07/2020 22:01

A hopeful bump

OP posts:
wallowboor · 20/07/2020 18:15

One last bump before dental app tomorrow

OP posts:
perfumeistooexpensive · 20/07/2020 18:36

If your molar needs a root canal treatment, the nerves and blood vessels are dead, so you won't feel anything in your tooth itself. The pain you have is referred pain from the infection at the end of the tooth. Grinding doesn't help, I know because I do it and it still causes a bit of pain in my already root filled molar. I'm glad you are seeing a dentist tomorrow, otherwise I would have said that if you get any swelling, it becomes and emergency as you can get an infection in the bone.

wallowboor · 20/07/2020 20:13

@perfumeistooexpensive Thanks for replying! So, it's definitely possible to have pain under my jaw and chin area without having pain in the tooth itself? So, in theory, would this pain go away after root canal treatment or would I need another round of anti biotics too?

OP posts:
perfumeistooexpensive · 20/07/2020 21:02

I'd guess antibiotics. When the pulp of the tooth dies, an abscess usually forms in the gum. You won't get pain in the tooth. The surrounding tissues could well be infected. It should go away after the RCT, but sometimes antibiotics are needed.

RHRA · 20/07/2020 21:41

I wondered about the mouthguard you’ve ordered. Usually these are custom made following an impression taken by your dentist. If you’ve ordered something generic from the internet and been ? wearing it, this could significantly negatively affect your bite leading to pain and other issues.

wallowboor · 20/07/2020 22:09

@RHRA Hi, I didn't know that. I ordered a guard on Amazon in desperation when my clenching became so bad at night. I'd wake up in a lot of pain in the morning. It was during lockdown so couldn't speak to my dentist about it. The guard is one of those ones you mould yourself in boiling water. Though, I can't quite remember if the problem with my bite happened before or after I started wearing the guard. It's been going on for so long now the timeline has become a bit blurry! But I definitely do have a problem with my bite that I'll speak to the dentist about tomorrow. The guard seemed to really help when I first started using it. I stopped waking up in pain and now I'm sort of scared to sleep without it.

OP posts:
wallowboor · 20/07/2020 22:12

@perfumeistooexpensive I did have a course of antibiotics in May when the tooth pain first started. Obviously that was all the dentist could do as they weren't open for treatment. It was after I finished the antibiotics that the pain in the tooth went away but obviously I still have pain under my jaw and chin area, just no longer in the actual tooth.

OP posts:
SallyWD · 20/07/2020 22:24

I just wondered if it could be TMJ? Or is it called TMD? I get this a lot. It causes a lot of pain in the jaw, teeth, occasionally neck. It's worse when I'm tense and subconsciously clenching. Obviously you have a problem with the tooth but the clenching, jaw pain and your bite not being quite right reminded me of my TMJ. Google it and see what you think.

wallowboor · 20/07/2020 22:32

@SallyWD Hi, yes this was something I'd already considered and googled. Though, I dismissed it because everything I read seemed to suggest the pain was mostly in the jaw joint and surrounding area, including the muscles in the cheek. I couldn't find any reference to the pain being specifically under the lower jaw and chin and this is where the worst of my pain is.

OP posts:
Greatdomestic · 20/07/2020 22:59

Hi op

I think Sally may be right on TMJ pain

I suffered horrifically with this from December to Feb, but the last couple of weeks were the worst. It felt like the pain one might get with a tooth abscess on x3 points in my mouth, with jaw pain and headaches, and only prescription painkillers stopped it.

I was at my dentist weekly, as I was convinced there was something wrong with my teeth. This also followed some traumatic dental treatment which can be a trigger apparently.

I also wear a mouth guard every night, but it should be custom made for you after moulds taken. I am a chronic teeth grinder.

I went to a macxiofacial (sorry about the spelling) specialist who confirmed this was the case, as my dentist was convinced it was TMJ pain.

I sympathise, I nearly lost the plot with the toothache, jaw and head pain.

Boohoohoohooho · 21/07/2020 09:23

No advice but loads of sympathy!

Hope you get some help from the dentist today.

wallowboor · 21/07/2020 15:08

So the dentist has confirmed I do need a root canal. Though, she has advised that this be done by a specialist rather than herself. She said she could do it but the chances of success are greater with the specialist. It's all private and would cost an extra £489 to go with the specialist. £753 in total and that's not including the crown afterwards.

Has anyone else had this experience before where the advice has been a specialist rather than a general dentist? I've had two root canals before but neither done by a specialist. I'm a nervous patient and have only just become comfortable with my current dentist. I don't really want to see anyone else.

I also do have a problem with my bite as I suspected but the dentist isn't sure why. I have had a temp crown since March. Permanent was fitted today so she's said to see if my bite gets better now I've got my permanent crown and also told me to stop using the mouth guard and see if that helps.

The pain I have under my jaw and chin, she said that could possibly be from either my bite or the tooth that needs the root canal. So, I guess it's going to be process of elimination.

OP posts:
Thisisworsethananticpated · 21/07/2020 16:39

OP sounds like what I have which is TMJ
The stress and stuff Makes it worse , I have a new mouth guard for this

But .... you might also have dental issues and need a re root canal

Lucky lady

Google TMJ as it’s a similar pain

Thisisworsethananticpated · 21/07/2020 16:41

Also
Can’t you just take that tooth out ? Extract the Little bugger

I have major TMJ pain today and I can say that painkillers help but it’s a bitch

wallowboor · 21/07/2020 17:07

@Thisisworsethananticpated Hi, with your TMJ do you get the pain specifically under your jaw and chin?

I've not had an extraction before and I guess I'd like to keep the tooth if I can. The dentist said an implant or whatever would cost way more than the root canal and crown.

OP posts:
Thisisworsethananticpated · 21/07/2020 17:30

I’ve got it so bad today , it feels like toothache but it’s in the jaw , cheek
I’ve also got really sensitive teeth too
Ugh 😑

Starrr123 · 12/01/2022 21:02

@wallowboor how are you now , xxx

Noway100 · 13/01/2022 02:18

OP said: 'She said she could do it but the chances of success are greater with the specialist. It's all private and would cost an extra £489 to go with the specialist. £753 in total and that's not including the crown afterwards'.

Yes in my experience as a patient, it is worth it, to get it done properly by a specialist. They will likely use specialised equipment such as a microscope so they can easily see the canals in the tooth, be much more experienced in the procedure and have enough time to devote to do a proper job. It is better that dentists are honest about the likely success rate, rather than doing botch jobs or worse still recommending extraction as the only option.
Good luck with it all.

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