Excruciating pain- root canal needed :(

[toddybell]

Visited the dentist yesterday with tooth pain. Was told I had an infection under the filling of one of my molars that needed treatment asap. She removed the filling and applied some medication to the tooth nerve and covered it with a temporary filling, ready for root canal treatment at some point in the next couple of weeks. Tooth felt fine yesterday but I've been up since 3am in absolute agony. I've already reached the maximum dose for both paracetamol and ibuprofen and neither have touched the pain- in fact, I feel quite poorly in myself (shivery and a bit delirious- not helped by being kept awake for days by a teething baby). I was prescribed antibiotics by the same dentist this morning and have got a consultation booked in with another dentist on Friday re: next steps.

The problem is, I really can't function with the pain I'm in- the only thing that's helping slightly is holding a hot water bottle to my cheek. The minute I move it away, the throbbing and pain comes back again. Has anyone got any tips or advice on how else I can reduce the pain?

Not much use now, but painkiller wise alternate ibuprofen and paracetamol, 1 tablet every 2 hours. My dentist told me to do that as best way to keep painkillers topped up.

Other things to try, sleep up right as soon as you lie down the pain gets much worse. One thing that has really helped me in the past was to draw the infection out of the tooth. Make a cup of tea and keep the teabag, as hot as you can bear it rolled up on the gum and over the painful tooth. Keep replacing , the heat helps to draw out the infection which eases the pain. It's not pretty but the relief is amazing. It should all help whilst the antibiotics kick in.

Can you afford to pay privately? I had horrible pain so called a BUPA dentist and they fitted me in the same day xx

Can you take codeine? If you have a 24 hour pharmacy nearby it’s worth trying to get some solpadine max. It’s the strongest thing you can buy over the counter.

I feel for you. I’m in the agony boat too. I’ve had stage 1 of root canal before Xmas, waiting stage 2 but also have an impacted wisdom tooth breaking through the back of my gum and on my third lot of antibiotics.

Been told I’m beyond standard dentistry and that they can’t help me with a surgeon for over 6 weeks just for a consult 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’ve been told to use corsodyl mouthwash and warm salt water to keep things clean where my infection appears resistant to antibiotics.

I was told not to use heat. That it might help with pain, but bacteria thrive more in a hot environment.

If nothing else I’m losing weight from lack of food and sleep. Pliers look mighty tempting right now.

Clove oil its the best thing for sure teeth, and I say that as someone whose had 5 root canals done

The only thing that worked for me was frozen peas wrapped in cling film and I had that on the inside of my mouth and an ice pack on my cheek. I froze the bastard to death. I've never ever had pain like it and I sympathise SO much. I literally wanted to die. Worse than childbirth.

You poor thing. I had similar before Xmas and I've never known pain like it.

You need some codeine - as strong as possible. Warm saline mouth wash, corsodyl mouth wash. If no better after 24 hrs antibiotics go back to dentist, you might need different type. I had metronidazole for deep gum infection.

Get dentist or GP to prescribe stronger painkiller - I took naproxen and cocodamol until pain eased.

Yup. I wanted to pull my own head off.

Tempted to bang my head against the wall to detract from the tooth pain.

And I had no idea there were stages to root canal treatment? Isn't it all done in one go- like a filling? (Have deliberately avoiding looking into the treatment because I'm the biggest wimp and would probably faint- had my last filling done at a specialist dentist who used laughing gas to knock me out!)

@G123454321

I feel for you. I’m in the agony boat too. I’ve had stage 1 of root canal before Xmas, waiting stage 2 but also have an impacted wisdom tooth breaking through the back of my gum and on my third lot of antibiotics.

Been told I’m beyond standard dentistry and that they can’t help me with a surgeon for over 6 weeks just for a consult 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’ve been told to use corsodyl mouthwash and warm salt water to keep things clean where my infection appears resistant to antibiotics.

I was told not to use heat. That it might help with pain, but bacteria thrive more in a hot environment.

If nothing else I’m losing weight from lack of food and sleep. Pliers look mighty tempting right now.

Shit- hadn't thought about heat and bacteria :'(

@GettingStuffed

Clove oil its the best thing for sure teeth, and I say that as someone whose had 5 root canals done

I've been warned off clove oil- been told it can burn the gum :/ plus don't want to introduce anything else to the bastard nerve.

However, if I was to use it (I've got some somewhere), how would I do it?

@justustwoandmoo

Can you afford to pay privately? I had horrible pain so called a BUPA dentist and they fitted me in the same day xx

Husband has just moved jobs and we've lost our private family dental cover. Bad timing 😭

Sending you a hug- I had this and was worst pain of my life. I used to boil the kettle and use warm/hot water swirled around my mouth to help the pain and discomfort. Plus the painkillers and antibiotics- they will work quite quick so remember this is temporary and they will soon kick in! You can add a little salt to the hot water if you like, I think I did that too. You’ve got the antibiotics and so at this point I would just be doing whatever you feel helps you manage the pain as the treatment will take care of itself. Keep to the absolute minute with the pain killers. Big hug xxxxx

Feel for you OP.I currently have an dental abscess and have felt dreadful.Hope you feel better soon.

Hopefully the dressing in your tooth should be starting to settle it down by now.

Are you breast feeding? If you are not you can buy Paracetamol and Codeine together over the counter and take them in addition to the Ibuprofen. A pharmacist will be able to advise you of doses and the best way to take them.

If it's really not settling back to your dentist to see if the tooth needs another dressing. Sometimes if there is a lot of inflammation inside it might benefit from a repeat dressing.

Most root canal treatment is a single visit unless there is infection or it's complicated.

Clove oil - just make sure to apply to the tooth and not the gum. You can ask the pharmacist for more advice.

I’m with you on banging your head on the wall. I actually did earlier. Impacted wisdom tooth and half a root canaled tooth both infected!! Yay!! 🤬

Stage 1 was easy, I’m told stage 2 is around a 2 hour appointment which will be delightful as I’ll be hopefully recovering from wisdom tooth surgery by then.
It never rains it pours.

I have access to bupa and am seeing a consultant next week but been told it could be 6 weeks to wait for surgery.

Is Extraction an option or does it have to be root canal?

I found that swilling round my tooth with warm, salted water helped. And also brushing my teeth with warm water.
I don't think they can do any treatment until the infection is gone. I've had three root canals and all ended up with a crown which is why it took so many treatments.

Managed to get to the dentist again this afternoon after begging them to give me their last emergency appointment. Dentist hacked away at the nerve, stuffed it full of medication and put the temporary filling back in. I was fine up until 10 mins ago and the pain is now back again with a vengeance- the throbbing is making me want to scream. I've got DC (2&3) who've been left to the husband to sort out while I have a lie down. Back at the dentist tomorrow for a consultation about what I want to do next. I'm thinking of going for an extraction- I can't cope with the pain anymore- I really can't. Does anyone know if this is a good idea? My life has deteriorated drastically since the pain started last week and I can't afford for it to get any worse.

@Theonlyoneiknow

Is Extraction an option or does it have to be root canal?

It is an option but I was advised by dentist to go down the root canal route first. I think I'm going to ask the dentist to take the bastard out.

@MillyMollyMardy

Hopefully the dressing in your tooth should be starting to settle it down by now.

Are you breast feeding? If you are not you can buy Paracetamol and Codeine together over the counter and take them in addition to the Ibuprofen. A pharmacist will be able to advise you of doses and the best way to take them.

If it's really not settling back to your dentist to see if the tooth needs another dressing. Sometimes if there is a lot of inflammation inside it might benefit from a repeat dressing.

Most root canal treatment is a single visit unless there is infection or it's complicated.

There's isn't any infection that she could see. She said she'd treated the nerve and it was just a case of waiting to see how my body would react. Really badly it seems 💥⚡️

Would having the tooth out impact the rest of my teeth? This is my lower molar (second) on the left side. I had the exact molar on the right side removed in childhood.

Ps. I know this sounds gross but last summer when the tooth first started playing up, there was a horrible smell coming from it (eg. When flossing). I found that I could suck the 'smell' out. I saw the dentist at the time and she said that it was likely there was infection under the filling and sucking it out was okay! She said I could leave it as it was and see what would happen (it might settle down or treat it if it got worse). The recent turn of events is because of the latter.

personally id just have the bloody thing taken out , no it wont impact the rest of your teeth , iv had a 2 molars taken out and nowt happens to the rest of them . remember they are dentists , they are always going to reccommend root canal to save your tooth , as thats their business , saving teeth if they can and plus repeated visits for root canal probably gets them more money than just one extraction .
nothing has ever persuaded me to plump for root canal over an extraction as it so often fails from the people iv spoken to who have had it done and its more sodding painful than just having it pulled