Another Random Medical Question

[adpialumcsuc]

Ok I am asking everyone about my situation because I am just sick of all this....

Just before Thanksgiving I started getting some pain in my lower back teeth but closer to the jaw bone. I thought maybe I had a problem with a tooth. I went to the dentist and he mentioned that I could possibly have a crack in a tooth due to the expansion and contraction of an old metal filling. Nothing was showing up on an xray and their wasn't an infection. I also wasn't able to feel pain from the tests that they use to see if there is a crack. I just had a dull pain all over.

December came along and Christmas eve it got really bad. So bad that I could barely move and ear was killing me. It felt like someone was stabbing me. Again thinking it was my tooth again I loaded up on painkillers and made it through the long weekend. Monday morning went to the Dentist for him to tell me that there was nothing wrong in my mouth and that he thought it was TMJ... Ok I am not dentist but I can tell you this wasn't TMJ. Someone mentioned I should go se my Dr. so I did the next day. I ended up having a severe Sinus and ear infection.....A really bad one. The Dr. put me on Antibiotics and with in a couple of days I felt better but still had this pain in my mouth. It got increasing better over the time of the antibiotic.

It has now been another month and I still have some pain. Not a lot but enough to be frustrating (my ear hurts a little also but I am not sure if that is in my mind) I called both the dentist and the Dr yesterday to find out what they think and both are telling me I need to see the other. I feel like screaming. I called the dentist this morning again his response (through the receptionist) was come in and well do a root canal and crown. Ok how does it go from everything is fine to you need a root canal and crown. ARGH!!!

I made an appointment with another dentist and I am going to the Dr. on Monday AGAIN!!

Has anyone ever had anything like this happen?

[chideltjen]

What kind of pain is it now?

Every time I have a dull ache in the back of my mouth, but no sign of anything odd, it usually from my grinding my teeth at night. When I am super stressed out (which it sounds like you are) I clench my teeth when I sleep and I wake up sore all over the back of my jaw. And it's been so bad once that my neck and places behind my ear were also sore.

Dentist said to have some red wine before sleeping. Of course at the time, I was going through a breakup.

Honestly, I have no idea what's up with your mouth. But I wish you luck... and get another opinion elsewhere because your dentist seems pretty oblivious.

Now if only I could figure out why I have a sharp pain running down my right arm, I'd be all set.

[_Opi_]

Could it be your wisdom tooth trying to come out?

But I'm sure your dentist would have spotted that from the get-go..


Jen,

same thing has been happening to me for over a year..I didnt know what it was until recently. My friend, who is in dentistry school, just told me that there mouthpieces for that.

[sageofages]

Originally posted by adpialumcsuc
Ok I am asking everyone about my situation because I am just sick of all this....

Just before Thanksgiving I started getting some pain in my lower back teeth but closer to the jaw bone. I thought maybe I had a problem with a tooth. I went to the dentist and he mentioned that I could possibly have a crack in a tooth due to the expansion and contraction of an old metal filling. Nothing was showing up on an xray and their wasn't an infection. I also wasn't able to feel pain from the tests that they use to see if there is a crack. I just had a dull pain all over.

December came along and Christmas eve it got really bad. So bad that I could barely move and ear was killing me. It felt like someone was stabbing me. Again thinking it was my tooth again I loaded up on painkillers and made it through the long weekend. Monday morning went to the Dentist for him to tell me that there was nothing wrong in my mouth and that he thought it was TMJ... Ok I am not dentist but I can tell you this wasn't TMJ. Someone mentioned I should go se my Dr. so I did the next day. I ended up having a severe Sinus and ear infection.....A really bad one. The Dr. put me on Antibiotics and with in a couple of days I felt better but still had this pain in my mouth. It got increasing better over the time of the antibiotic.

It has now been another month and I still have some pain. Not a lot but enough to be frustrating (my ear hurts a little also but I am not sure if that is in my mind) I called both the dentist and the Dr yesterday to find out what they think and both are telling me I need to see the other. I feel like screaming. I called the dentist this morning again his response (through the receptionist) was come in and well do a root canal and crown. Ok how does it go from everything is fine to you need a root canal and crown. ARGH!!!

I made an appointment with another dentist and I am going to the Dr. on Monday AGAIN!!

Has anyone ever had anything like this happen?

Sounds like a deep abyss either along your tooth root (a root canal will help) or into your eustachian tube. Did you try hard core decongestants along with your antibiodic?

At this point, I would see an ENT not just your regular dr. After that I would see an oral surgeon instead of your regular dentist.

Mr Sageofages had something similiar. Infected lymph node above a tooth and his entire face swelled beyond recognition (geek told everyone I hit him with a wrench!) and he was in such pain only percocet even came close to easing (not eliminating) the pain. He was almost hospitalized over it.

It is now months later, and he still has lingering pain, especially to touch his cheek.

Good luck

[AKA_Monet]

Your mandible and your sinuses are connected. If you have an infection in one, it can transfer to an infection in the other. And it could be exacerbated with bruxism--grinding of your teeth...

My dad, a dentist, has gotten on my case about my bruxism... And I have dull pains in my back teeth. He said that if I have anymore pain and I cracked my tooth, the only way I can alleviate the pain is to have a root canal with a crown... But I'd probably grind that thing down, too...

And abcess is very obvious, because it hurts like the beejesus and there is inflammation and swelling around the infected tooth or teeth. A root canal can be done depending of the extent of the abcess growth, but it will not be done until antibiotic treatment, dialation and curettage or other things that are done... The absolute last resort is an extraction (removal of the tooth). If you did have an abcess, you would not be able to open your mouth and your entire side of your face would be swollen as if someone sucker punched you... That's why your dentist told you correctly...

My suspicion, you are grinding your teeth down to the "bone" or bottom of your filling, that cutting into your dentin and causing a clenched jaw pain. If you do not have a bruxist device, you need one. You need to wear it all the time, except when eating. And you probably need to floss more... And for some reason those new sonic tooth brushes work very well in removing plaque and you need a better toothpaste.

Also try making a paste out of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and brush with that for 2-3 weeks to reduce your level of plaque build up around your gums... Because your gums are red when you have inflammation and they probably weren't that's why the dentist said you did not have an abcess...

Disclaimer: I am not a M.D. or a D.D.S. so I am unqualified to give you the best advice. But it is a start and you can have questions to ask when you visit your doctors...

[adpialumcsuc]

Jen
The pain I feel now is very dull and is mostly related to suction(you know when you swollow you form a slight suction in your mouth) and light pressure. biting and heavy pressure don't bother it but my upper teeth just resting on it does. It is weird. If I didn't know better I would say stress also but I have had that happen before and this is different. It is more related to the tooth and then the jaw instead of just the jaw. Plus it isn't in the joint of the jaw. It is out closer to the front.

Opi
I did have my wisdon teeth removed in High School so unless he missed one or there is a mystery tooth can't be that.

sageofages
What you said does intreage me. Can I assume you meant abcess and not abyss though. X rays have been taken and there is no infection related to the tooth or the roots. What is eustachian tube? Is that the one in your ears/throat area that kids have removed when they have a lot of ear infections? I did have a bad ear infection and maybe the dose of antibiotics didn't cure it. I was on a decongestant and it helped. Today when I woke up my throat hurt and my tooth didn't. When my sinus's drained before my throat hurt but I don't know it was related or if I am just digging for an answer.
I do plan on going to an ENT if my Dr doesn't show any left overs from the infection. The ENT that removed my tonsils can't get me in until the middle of february but I made an appointment anyways.
Percocet didn't touch my pain either..Unfortunately. However the pain I now dosn't require pain killers

Thanks for the help I want to have ideas when I go next time to the Dr.

[XOMichelle]

if the antibiotics worked, keep taking a decongestant. Good move on the ENT. They may try and get a CAT scan.

[sageofages]

Originally posted by adpialumcsuc
sageofages
What you said does intreage me. Can I assume you meant abcess and not abyss though. X rays have been taken and there is no infection related to the tooth or the roots. What is eustachian tube? Is that the one in your ears/throat area that kids have removed when they have a lot of ear infections? I did have a bad ear infection and maybe the dose of antibiotics didn't cure it. I was on a decongestant and it helped. Today when I woke up my throat hurt and my tooth didn't. When my sinus's drained before my throat hurt but I don't know it was related or if I am just digging for an answer.
I do plan on going to an ENT if my Dr doesn't show any left overs from the infection. The ENT that removed my tonsils can't get me in until the middle of february but I made an appointment anyways.
Percocet didn't touch my pain either..Unfortunately. However the pain I now dosn't require pain killers

Thanks for the help I want to have ideas when I go next time to the Dr.

Yes yes I meant abcess....darn cold drugs they make me fuzzy

Eustachian tubes run from your ear to your throat and regulate pressure behind the ear drum/middle ear. Kids get tubes put in them when they are little (I don't believe they are easily removed). Constant drainage can keep them blocked.

One thing I noticed today, with a NASTY sinus infection and cold myself) is my top teeth HURT. I had forgotten that little tidbit, whenever I get a bad sinus infection (or even a bad sinus headache) my top molars ache on both sides. A dentist told me once it was because of long roots .

Sounds like an ENT is the way to go for you Good luck.

[Dionysus]

It can be a TUMAH!

Consult your physician without delay!

[layla2728]

as soon as you said it felt like someone was stabbing you, I knew it was a sinus infection. same thing happened to me... the health center on campus misdiagnosed me (said I just had a bug and to take robitussin) and I ended up going to the ER and getting a CT scan only to find out it was just a very advanced sinus infection. I never got completely better after that for a few months... I couldn't help but think the antibiotics never fully got rid of it.
but my advice to you is to get a second opinion from another doctor (like others said, an ENT, not a dentist), especially before you go and get a root canal!
hope you feel better!!!

[adpialumcsuc]

Thanks everyone...
I really think it has to do with my sinuses. Hopefully the Dr will confirm that on Monday again. If not I have an appointment at my ENT in Feb. The Dr. just keeps telling me that if I don't have a fever or sinus pain it isn't a sinus infection. I think he forgets that the first time I didn't have either of the two and it was a sinus infection gone really bad.
OH Well Thanks Again