Re: Surrounding pain after having an old filling r... - Page 2

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

@msh8970 wrote:
The tooth itself is not hurting, but the jaw sometimes hurts and up to the ear and sometimes the left side of my head. A lot of times experiencing a dull headache. This 'surrounding pain' (for lack of better wording) did not start until Friday, and has been happpening all weekend and now today (Monday). It will be one week tomorrow that the old filling was replaced. Had no issues the first few days. Only seemed to begin on Friday....

Backstory: This tooth chipped about 4 or 5 yeas ago, while eating a (soft) sandwich. I went to the dentist and just had the broken part smoothed down. This tooth had a very large amagram/silver very old filling. I was very diligent about keeping the tooth/teeth clean. Never caused me pain, but that dentist wanted me to get a crown or at least a replacement filling, and I said I wanted to 'wait and see' if I had any problems with that tooth.

Went to dentist #2 back in January, and she recommended the same thing. I was then thinking, okay, go see my family dentist for my next exam (which was last week). My family dentist has been my dentist for 30 years now, he knew my family before he became my dentist, so I trust him. Plus he is a perfectionist and very OCD about cleanliness (as any dentist should be). So, I figured he would know best.

He replaced the old amgaram filling with a composite. While he was 'drilling away' I heard him mention a few times (to the assistant?), 'we have to remove the old black stuff'..(I assumed he meant to old filling that kind of looked black, but after reading online, bacteria..?)

I did not notice this pain until Friday (I had it replaced Tuesday). This past weekend, I've had moderate headaches, again, some intermittent pain on the left side of my head, and the left side of my jaw up to my ear. Not horrific pain nor consistent, I would rate it on a scale of 1 to 10 level of pain at about 2 to 4 level of pain. So, not horrific, but definitely uncomfortable.

Been reading around and I see sometimes this can last for a couple weeks. Also been reading around and seeing a root canal and crown might be possible. My insurance does not cover all of that, and my family dentist does not accept my insurance, and I wish he explained this possibility to me before replacing the old filling, as this seems somewhat common. FWIW, I wish I never had the old filling replaced..it was not causing any pain or problem.

So very sadly I am thinking of having the tooth extracted..I've read a few places about root canals can also lead to health problems and it might be best if a tooth is bad to just extract it versus a root canal. The theory is not to save a 'dying tooth'. I guess the dentist can tell how bad it is, but again, I wish these possibilities were discussed before he replaced the old filling.

My family dentist has always said my oral hygiene is really great and that I take really good care of my teeth (never did as a child, unfortunately). I had braces so that is when I began to really become fanatical about taking care of my teeth.

So bummed..I can't afford a root canal and crown...

I hate bothering the dentist, as it looks like some online places say this is normal..but my gut tells me this should not be happening. I have not had any fillings in over 30 years, so I forget what it's like afterward, and I've never had old fillings replaced (and likely never will again, unless there is a problem)...

Sadly if there is some issue and a root canal discussion is the possibility, I will sadly likely just have the tooth removed..not a good thing, I know..but I can't afford the root canal and crown procedures...

@msh8970 Put it on a credit card and pay off as fast as you can. Better than being in pain.

Desertdi · ‎03-13-2010

Pain is an indication that something is WRONG. If the tooth is in the back of your mouth.........I would have it pulled. No sense putting a root canal into a tooth that is not visible and/or not used for chewing. If it's a front tooth.......well, that's another story......and as you say, quite expensive.

♥Surface of the Sun♥

PickyCindy · ‎10-17-2010

This is my story: I had a top left back molar that lost its filling and I went without seeing a dentist to replace it for a long while. Then I had a new filling in. That's when all my problems started. Some months later it started really hurting. It turned out I had a nasty infection in that tooth. The dentist gave me antibiotics and this seemed to really help for a bit. But the pain returned. The infection apparently did, too. So he sends me to the root canal specialist who started the root canal but then stopped to investigate the tooth's xrays under his microscope further. He found a hairline fracture that ran from the side of the tooth all the way up under the gum line. Meaning a root canal and a crown was not going to fix the problem. Bacteria was still going to be able to get up under the gum line. He recommended I have the tooth extracted. I did. Bye bye tooth.

msh8970 · ‎02-06-2017

@Desertdi wrote:
Pain is an indication that something is WRONG. If the tooth is in the back of your mouth.........I would have it pulled. No sense putting a root canal into a tooth that is not visible and/or not used for chewing. If it's a front tooth.......well, that's another story......and as you say, quite expensive.

It's the very last molar on my bottom left side. I had 4 molars removed when I got braces, so if I get this exctracted, it would leave me with one molar on the bottom left side. I chew mostly on my right side. Waiting to call the dentist. Phone is busy.

Cindy-QVC · ‎06-14-2015

Moved:

This post has been removed by QVC inappropriate

msh8970 · ‎02-06-2017

This says moved, but when I click the link, it says not found and "inappropriate". I am wondering why?

Anyway, I did call the dentist office and finally got through about an hour ago, the receptionist said she would relay the message to the dentist and call me back.

VanSleepy · ‎10-05-2010

The only time I have had jaw pain and ear (even neck) pain was when I had an abscess. The pain actually started on the way home from a routine cleaning! For a couple days I just chalked it up to the cleaning. Don't hesitate to call the dentist. (I see you did )

homedecor1 · ‎03-09-2010

@msh8970

I know this feeling well 8 months ago I had root canal done (big $$$). About 6 months ago I started having pain in the area when I bit down, jaw & ear area.

I had my cleaning about 6 weeks ago & ouch the pain in this area had become "extreme". I called dentist told me I had "deep periodontal cleaning", therefore, just rinse with warm salt water.

Fast forward to Friday last week...the pain was "throbbing" and of course, I'm thinking how can this tooth be giving me pain when it has root canal. Today, I called the office & they had me come in.

Oh my -- the tooth he did the root canal is split down the middle infection has set into my gum & tooth needs to be removed🤬🤬. I have this infection -- my jaw is sore, my ear hurts, etc.

I have appt. at oral surgeon on Wednesday to give the antibiotics to work. I'm a little annoyed because I'm very particular about my teeth & I have a feeling somehow this dentist (who I used on emergency basis mine was on vaca when I got abscess) caused this break. Anyway, I almost passed out when he told me $600 to remove & do skin graph in area.

I am sad to lose my tooth or any teeth for that matter. I hope you find out what is going on & feel better.

Big Sister · ‎05-15-2010

Is it possible that the pain may be coming from your jaw joint (TMJ) because you had to open your mouth very wide. If that may be it, put warm compresses on the joint several times a day. That will help relax the joint. When I had a problem with my TMJ I also had headaches.

Vivian · ‎03-11-2010

Sorry to say, you may well need a root canal followed by a crown. Do not extract the tooth if at all possible. An implant costs more in time and money. My father was and my brother and nephew are dentists and their most significant rule is to save the tooth if at all possible. Ask your dentist to refer you to an endodontist. You may be able to work out a payment plan that can insure that tooth is no longer a problem.