Bad pain in jaw

Sanjuro

On Monday last, I had two fillings, one on each side of my mouth. As such, I needed injections in both sides of my jaw. The teeth being filled were at the very back, so the dentist gave me the shots in the very back of my jaw. Fillings went fine, no problems there. For the next day or two, my jaw was a bit achey, but I put that down to the injections.

Last night, at 5am, I woke up and my entire lower jaw was in agony. The pain feels like it's underneath my lower teeth and stretches back to my lower jaw. I don't know if it's related to the fillings as they were on my upper teeth. It's an ache rather than shooting pain. Before I ring up the dentist about it, I was wondering if anybody had any idea what this might be. She's an excellent dentist and did a brilliant job of the fillings, so I doubt she missed something. Thanks in advance.

hg03 eyu

Just to be clear if I understand you correctly did you had a back filling on your lower right and lower left side at the same visit?
Therefore your entire lower lip left and right was numb after this single visit.

Sanjuro

No the fillings were in the upper back (left and right) teeth. The injections were in the jaw just behind them, on both sides. And the pain is happening in my lower jaw. I'm not sure if they're all related or if the issue is something completely different.

hg03 eyu

Pain can be referred from your top teeth to your lower teeth but only on the same side.

Thus a top left tooth could refer pain to a lower left tooth making it appear that it is the lower tooth is the source of the pain.

However, pain cannot be referred from left to right or from right to left!

The nature and severity of your symptoms suggests that the filling(s) may have been very deep and close to the nerve of the tooth.

A common diagnosis in this situation is irreversible pulpitis.

Your options then are either extraction (cheap) or root canal treatment (not cheap).

A back tooth having root canal treatment will usually require a crown (not cheap) also.

Sanjuro

Balls. I've always been terrified of the idea of a root canal. I'll have to book an appointment with the dentist to get this checked out. Thank you for the information!

Bessa

Hi i had the same trouble recently after extractions of top back teeth on both sides. The next day my bottom teeth were all aching and the next day after, all my teeth were sore into my jaw. I had to take painkillers, and i eventually resorted to taking a course of antibiotics which i had on hand as a just in case from another dental problem. All in all this lasted for at least ten days and now is gone. I thought it may have been some sort of cold in my mouth from the windy weather, as i had something similar a few years ago without ever visiting the Dentist. I found Nuerofen very good.