Help - worst toothache ever - what to do?

[getoutofmyhead]

Hello everyone,
I’m looking for support regarding a dental pain that nobody seems to be able to diagnose. The pain started about a year ago between my upper right first and second molars. It’s a dull, ongoing ache that painkillers barely relieve. My dentist initially recommended cavity treatment for the third molar, thinking it might be the source of the pain. Despite undergoing the cavity treatment, the pain continued, leading my dentist to advise a root canal for the upper right third molar. Before proceeding, I sought additional opinions from four other dental practices to confirm whether it was indeed the correct tooth. All dentists agreed that a root canal was necessary on the third molar, so I went ahead with the procedure in April of this year. Unfortunately, about a month later, the pain came back between my second and third upper molars. I consulted two more dentists. One suggested cavity treatment for the upper right second molar. The other proposed a root canal for one of the teeth (either the first or second molar), but he wasn’t sure which one, as the scans didn’t show anything conclusive. I don't experience pain when tapping on the teeth, but I have significant sensitivity to cold, especially in the second molar. Has anyone experienced something similar? What do you think might be the cause of the ongoing pain and sensitivity? Any suggestions on the next steps I should take? I cant take to keep going to dentists to get unconclusive treatment plan. Thanks so much for your input.

I had excruciating tooth pain which my dentist diagnosed as a sinus infection and I was treated ,(successfully) with antibiotics. He said the infection was so bad it had impacted my jaw bone.

If I recall correctly there was a blister on my him which helped with the diagnosis.

Thank you for sharing. That's very interesting and I thought about this, but none of the many dentists Ive seen have suggested this. Maybe I should lead with this and see what they say.

Are you flossing well between them? Well under the gumline? Could be little pockets of infection.

Yes flossing between them everyday and seen the hygienist three times this year. Would infection pocket shows on scan?

Have you been to a Dr to see whether they have a different diagnosis? Maybe the dentists have a very narrow lense they are interpreting things through
^^

Dental neuropathy

Thank you all. Ive started an antibiotic treatment as it might a sinus infection, according to my gp.

@36and3 That's very interesting. I’ll definitely research this further, as it describes exactly to the pain i have. Thank you!

Mine was trigeminal neuralgia. I had a tooth out due to pain and then the pain still didn't go.

It was intensely triggered by cold water on the tooth, but also triggered in a gnawing way during the night and if I ate or drank.

Unfortunately tooth fractures aren't always visible on scans or xrays.

You're had a dental CT scan?

@DrMadelineMaxwell how painful. I am so sorry. Is the pain gone now? What have you done?

@CulturalNomad I only had the routine xRay that dentists do. I will ask for a CT scan. My dentist did mentioned about fractured tooth not being visible on xRay.

I had a filling done by the dentist as they were still sure it was my teeth, then while still numb from the anaesthetic I realised I still was in agony with the pain. So I went to the gp. They agreed it sounded like TN and prescribed medication.

I then saw a neurologist and had an MRI and they gave further advice on the medication.

One of the key things to help diagnose is if normal painkillers don't work, then it is nerve pain, as aspirin/ibuprofen etc don't work for TN.

A few years back I had a similar issue with severe tooth pain. Nothing on x-ray; dentist eventually sent me for a dental CT scan. While it still didn't show a fracture it did clearly reveal an infection that was leading to bone loss(!)

Had an extraction (tooth had a root fracture) and an implant. Expensive, but resolved the problem.

I have no advice but I am so sorry you are going through this. Tooth pain is the worst.

The crack in my tooth was invisible for probably a couple of years where I'd had the odd twinge until it went from 0-100000 on the pain scale. It then stayed totally invisible for another three months until an abscess formed and it finally opened up at the surface so the dentist could see it with the naked eye about two weeks later.

Did two weeks on antibiotics, couple of procedures (one poking with a pointy thing, one cutting in a couple of places) to release the pressure and then it was finally extracted. It was one of those where the pain had been so bad that the normal post-extraction pain felt non existent and didn't even require paracetamol.

The only other thing as painful as the nerve pain from an invisibly cracked lower molar was pressure on the nerve on an upper tooth from a blocked sinus.