Pain for 3 weeks.

jhammer

Been suffering a pain in my left side of jaw for two weeks now.
Initial visit to dentist had no success in finding pain. Tested sensitivity on upper and lower teeth. Went back a week later after it continued and he was still stumped. Was told teeth are spotless and I would jump out of seat with the tests he done if it was a tooth problem. Advised me to wait two weeks and then see either a pain specialist or visit the dental hospital.


Pain has never been as bad as today. Still can't decide if it's upper or lower teeth or gums!! Pain did subside during week but not sure was it a placebo effect.

Can anyone advise ? Do I need to be treated as "emergency" in dental hospital or do I need a referral letter? Can I just show up? Feel let down my dentist couldn't solve it.
There is a specialist in Dublin 4 but cannot make contact until tomorrow.

Oral Surgeon

Any pain with hot or cold food/drinks?
Any pain on biting on a tooth or teeth? Is any tooth sore to tap on?
Any swelling in or around the jaws?
Any tender glands around the neck?

Any pain on opening, closing or moving the jaw from side to side?

Pain keeping you awake at night?

Any broken teeth, root canaled teeth, deep fillings, impacted wisdom teeth??

jhammer wrote: »

Been suffering a pain in my left side of jaw for two weeks now.
Initial visit to dentist had no success in finding pain. Tested sensitivity on upper and lower teeth. Went back a week later after it continued and he was still stumped. Was told teeth are spotless and I would jump out of seat with the tests he done if it was a tooth problem. Advised me to wait two weeks and then see either a pain specialist or visit the dental hospital.


Pain has never been as bad as today. Still can't decide if it's upper or lower teeth or gums!! Pain did subside during week but not sure was it a placebo effect.

Can anyone advise ? Do I need to be treated as "emergency" in dental hospital or do I need a referral letter? Can I just show up? Feel let down my dentist couldn't solve it.
There is a specialist in Dublin 4 but cannot make contact until tomorrow.

jhammer

No pain from any of those. I can touch area no problem. Gums feel a bit tender. Dentist did the biting test on me(with a tube?), nothing stood out. put an antifreeze? on individual teeth also and said I'd jump out the chair if it was an individual tooth. I'm chewing on the other side as subconsciously I don't want to agrivate it, even though I know it won't.
Feels like a toothache right now, he told me teeth are ' spotless' and no sign of decay.
Going to seek a 2nd opinion anyway. Ponstan can only do so much.
appreciate the reply

jhammer

Actually maybe a little reaction to cold drinks.

Oral Surgeon

jhammer wrote: »

No pain from any of those. I can touch area no problem. Gums feel a bit tender. Dentist did the biting test on me(with a tube?), nothing stood out. put an antifreeze? on individual teeth also and said I'd jump out the chair if it was an individual tooth. I'm chewing on the other side as subconsciously I don't want to agrivate it, even though I know it won't.
Feels like a toothache right now, he told me teeth are ' spotless' and no sign of decay.
Going to seek a 2nd opinion anyway. Ponstan can only do so much.
appreciate the reply

Common things are common, I would seek a second opinion, sometimes a second set of eyes will see the problem. Allow the second dentist to take new X-rays, often the first set didn't show the problems and another would, so don't make the second dentist use the old X-rays....

Failing that, I would see an endodontist.

If your dentist(s) and an endodontist can't see an obvious problems then I would be seen by a pain specialist such as that guy in Dublin 4 that you referred to...

davo10

TMJ pain?

Are you stressed and not sleeping well?
Can you hear your jaw clicking on the painful side?
Have you noticed that mouth opening is slightly restricted or that when you open fully/clench teeth that the pain changes slightly?
Does it feel as if pain is radiating out from just in front of your ear and that it sometimes feels as if it's coming from an area between the side of your forehead and the underside of your jaw?
Have you had much milder discomfort like this in the past, discomfort that you knew was there but didn't think much of it because it wasn't that sore?

Oral Surgeon

jhammer wrote: »

Actually maybe a little reaction to cold drinks.

missed that post... maybe a cracked tooth??
I'd see an endodontist for a diagnosis....

alie

Go into dental hospital. Dentist could not diagnose my daughter. Dental hospital did in no time at all. They are very good.

jhammer

Appreciate the replies. I am going to a new dentist beside work this morning for a second opinion. The last dentist never took an X-Ray, can i insist on one at the new dentist? Just want to rule out wisdom teeth.

alie

Yes of course you can. Good luck. Clove oil is great for pain.

jhammer

So to update...my original dentist is blind!!!

I have a decaying molar on the bottom. Pretty bad. Took an x-ray and spotted it straight away. Suggested food may have got stuck there and it went from there. He says its extremely close to nerve and is recommending root canal.Said i could get it filled but as its so close to nerve that it may still be at me. Started me on diafine and penicillin as its also infected. he was great to deal with but it just makes me disappointed in my current dentist.

I have to get it done. As its a back molar is the price of close to €700 correct? Multi rooted molar tooth? I can see on some websites the price of €400 for a molar root canal.

From previous posts i can see I'm entitled to 20% back?

alie

Ouch. Poor you. For your mouth as well as your wallet. You could always go up north to get it done. We are ripped off down here.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

jhammer wrote: »

So to update...my original dentist is blind!!!

I have a decaying molar on the bottom. Pretty bad. Took an x-ray and spotted it straight away. Suggested food may have got stuck there and it went from there. He says its extremely close to nerve and is recommending root canal.Said i could get it filled but as its so close to nerve that it may still be at me. Started me on diafine and penicillin as its also infected. he was great to deal with but it just makes me disappointed in my current dentist.

I have to get it done. As its a back molar is the price of close to €700 correct? Multi rooted molar tooth? I can see on some websites the price of €400 for a molar root canal.

From previous posts i can see I'm entitled to 20% back?

Root canal is a tricky business, as you now have first hand experiance of some dentists pay more attention to detail than others, choose a dentist that is good not one that is cheap, in dentistry more than nearly anywhere else you get what you pay for.