Dentist says its sinus, doc says its dental

[booksoverscreens]

I had root canal 3 years ago. I've had on/off sinus issues since and pain where tooth is etc Anyhow, In sept I had a crown fitted on rc tooth that dentist insisted on. Day after crown I got a tremendous headache, awful sinus pain and I've been in pain since then basically, pain varies from intolerable to bearable, for nearly 7 weeks! I've been back to dentist 3 times! they have been quite defensive and said x-ray looks fine, even endodontist looked at x-ray & said the issue is not the crown or root canal tooth and that its sinus. Even though I said pain coincided with crown and is mostly in tooth area.

Then pain got worse. I accept I may have that weird bug that's going round making this worse. So went to a&E, sinus specialist there thinks this is a failed root canal, says I've got a mucus retention cyst (sorry tmi) on x-ray and to return to dentist(!) It was helpful to be given a diagnosis as the dentist was implying it was in my head.

What do people do when neither the doctor nor dentist think it's their area??? Obv I need to go to a second dentist clinic (or a private ENT specialist for a second opinion?) - how easy is that? My finances aren't great. But my life isn't worth living currently, I've cancelled all social events so I'm feeling quite isolated the last 6 weeks. And constant facial, dental, ear pain really gets one down. I'm at the point where I'm happy to get tooth pulled even though my savings have gone on trying to keep it. But I dont even know how to do that if my dentist isn't interested. Any advice or personal experiences welcome....

Sounds similar to what happened to my friend, had the same issues after going to the dentist and they refused to take any blame.

After months of sinus infections I think she ended up with surgery to clear it and is much better now

Have you told the dentist who performed the root canal etc about your new diagnosis? I'd start there before contacting a new practice, unless you feel the relationship has broken down irretrievably.

Do you have a dental hospital you can contact? Or maybe try NHS direct?

Whatever happens, I hope you get some relief soon, it sounds awful.

Sorry to hear this OP! Tooth issues are so awful, like you say the pain can affect your whole face and really get you down. It’s bloody expensive too! I had something last year similar. Filling fell out of large molar, new filling put in. Started to get sinus pain. Dentist couldn’t see any infection, thought it was sinusitis. Nothing I did to clear the sinus helped. Pain kept coming and going. Then it got really bad and I went back to the dentist. The tooth had hairline crack, infection had got in and tooth had to be pulled. Had absolutely no issues with my sinus since.

Thanks everyone. If my GP says dentist, but my dentist insists tooth is fine - even though it's been weeks of pain, I'm going to have to try a&E again. But mostly I'm at a loss, I wish dentist had suggested risk pre-crown and I wouldn't have done it as Im currently job searching after a stressful year. I also wish dentist would be curious and link incident to crown but they just keep saying crown and RC are fine. Do I just find a new dentist?

I really feel for you

what has your dentist said about the cyst? Have you had a dental x-ray after the A&E doctor said that?

OP I don't know if this is a possible route for you but it occurs to me, under the circumstances, that you could try explaining the situation to 111. Tell them how much pain you're in, the impact it is having, and see if they can refer you to a dental hospital or emergency NHS service?

Just a thought, might be worth a shot. Apologies if you've already been through 111. I've had years of dental sinus-related issues and I feel for you 💐

This is awful. It really frustrates me when HCPs point at some kind of image they’ve taken of the structure (whatever it is - tooth, retina, whatever) and say “oh but the scan shows this…”

That is not what is happening as I’m living my life and I am STILL IN PAIN.

I ended up having an upper molar pulled to sort out repeated pain. RCT looked fine on the X Ray, but it never settled. I really feel for you OP.

You need a CT sinus if thats what it's being suggested is the issue.
Surely the GP can refer you for that? And then the ENT specialist if necessary?

Do you have any problems with your nose? Like have you broken it, is it damaged at all internally or shaped unusually? That can mean stuff gets stuck in sinuses etc.

I've got all sorts of defects like that and the sinus issues started with this virus that's going around. I'm only just recovering now after 5 weeks!

Dr (but anaesthetist).

GPs won't know much about teeth we get a max of 1 week teaching on teeth/mouth at uni. When I did early training and worked in GP we had it strongly reinforced to us that we aren't legally indemnified for giving any dental related advice and had to send people to dentists

You want to see maxfax as they're dual trained as doctors and dentists

GPs can't request CTs in everywhere I've worked its a hospital only investigation

Ah ok. Then hopefully GP refers to ENT at hospital and then they give CT?

Maxfax would be better than ent. Waits are many months on NHS unfortunately. If u live near a teaching hospital like guys in London u used to be able to sit and wait for free treatment by dental students that are supervised

See an osteopath and a homeopath.. they won't quibble about whether it is sinuses or dental, but they will help.

Ok yeah if it's easier to get an appointment. Mine was through ent but it's because I need surgery on nose also.

Is the crown high in your bite? Did you just have an xray or CT in a&e? A mucus retention cyst isnt cause by a failed root canal, but is unlikely to cause significant pain.

Its impossible really to tell without exam/imaging, sinus issues can cause dental pain, dental pain can cause sinus issues

Could be a crack in the tooth that is only showing now the tooth is in occlusion, could be ligament pain in the tooth if its not high in your bite, could be TMD. Is the tooth painful when the dentist taps it? When you bite down?

If the dentist cant find a cause despite appropriate tests, I would advise they refer you to maxfax, A&E or 111 are unlikely to do anything for facial pain

If the GP and sinus specialist (Im assuming ENT) say its not sinusitis then I would treat as facial pain not sinus pain, which is the dentists remit to manage or refer as appropriate.

You need a second dental opinion as your dentist isn’t helping.