One for dentist / GP types of STW...
[long]
So, several months back, starts off with a mild tooth ache, around the time of a stinking cold.
General ache sort of went away but then getting a definite sensitive tooth upper rear molar on eating/drinking hot and cold things. This is on a tooth that has an existing (white) filling.
Not too bad so leave it for my next check up which was a few weeks time. See the dentist, temporary guy as regular was away, does a full check and can't see anything wrong. Tap test on tooth, nothing. Just the sensitive bit touching side of the tooth (and was causing a load of pain during the hygienist). Does x-ray to check anything underlying going on, nothing showing up. Suggests rubbing tooth with Sensodyne etc. Also hinted at maybe sinus issues can cause problems.
Week later it starts aching loads but is aching all over the place. Around that tooth, right at the side of the mouth, a lot in the lower jaw, above the eye sometimes and even ear. Keeps moving about.
So I book with the GP to see what they think. Check over, scoffed and just packed me off back to the dentist.
Dentist visit again, my regular one. Looks at previous x-ray and is puzzled, does more checks, does a more detailed x-ray, still nothing. Says to try holding head down for a minute and does it get more painful, which it does a little. Possibly sinus then. Nice bill for extra dentist visit and packed off to get some sinus meds.
Try them, crap all difference. Now the aches come and go. Some days it's aching all over the place and even a general headache. Some days it's just the sensitive tooth aching, and some nothing.
Occasionally I feel really stuffy and it seems worse. Sometimes I feel clear headed and seems much better. Though the sensitive tooth is still ever present, just to a lesser extent.
Go on holiday, way better, just a bit of sensitive tooth. Back from holiday and it kicks in big time, aching left right and centre some days and better others.
Doing my head in. Thing is some days I'm certain it's a plain dental pain and others I'm convinced it can't be as the aches are no where near that tooth.
Not sure what to do though next as another dentist appointment is another £30-£40 depending on more x-rays, and doctor appointment is 3 weeks wait and then 5 mins to be told to go away and see a dentist.
Dentist has said it could also be a dead root and something to do with a deep filling, but sounds like they don't know unless they get in there (root canal I guess), and it might not be that. They also said the root of that tooth is right into the sinus.
Or just flip a coin and decide dentist or doctor to see next (one being expensive though).
Ask GP for referral to ENT?
Edit: it sounds miserable. Do you have any root canal fillings? How long ago was the tooth filled? Is the tooth intact?
Not a doctor\dentist type but I knew someone with very similar symptoms. Like you, they were backwards and forwards to the dentist/doctor having X Ray. Eventually it turned out to be trygeminal neuralgia. She was prescribed something to ease it and it gradually went away.
Did I mention that I'm not a doctor/dentist type?
No root canal, but the sensitive tooth has a filling that was redone couple years back. Dentist did comment that it's a deep filling but otherwise intact and xrays look good.
Other thing I notice is swallowing triggers an ache at times in various places, and also occasionally breathing through nose.
Today it's been mostly lower jaw again.
All weird.
Do you clench and/or grind your teeth in your sleep?
That's what the dentist asked me. To be honest I don't know. They did try some tests with bite and said there was some hint of grinding.
This does get really painful at times though, feeling like a solid tooth ache, then goes away, then it will ache somewhere else. Did that yesterday.
As said though, ever present is the sensitive tooth. They thought it's recessed gum there causing it. Could be that's just a second issue and it's being affected by the first.
try another dentist?
Yes, try another dentist. I clench at night, which was causing daily headaches and numbness in my face. This has all but disappeard since I went to a dentist that is a clenching and grinding expert. I've got an NTI splint that goes on my top front teeth and stops me biting down fully and a "slider" that fits over my bottom teeth and allows the splint to slide, rather that me grinding a groove into it.
Two different dentists so far, but the same practice. They've been excellent so far. Used them for past 20 or so years.
Your dentists may well be good dentists but clenching and grinding is not something that's very well understood by all dentists. Your problem may not be clenching or grinding but with ruling out?
I am a dentist, but haven't examined you, so.....
There are a number of options, and frankly it can be very difficult to diagnosis a symptom that comes / goes, varies in intensity. Sometimes you end up starting with the least invasive option, eliminating it,mans then moving on. Which is to be far exactly what your practice have been doing....
One of the issues may be the cause may be multi factorial I.e. You may have a sensitive tooth (dentine sensitivity), plus some sinus congestion which exacerbates it. You could also have a molar tooth which is in the process of 'dying'. Sometimes as these teeth have multiple roots one is compromised (and resulting in sympts), which these others remain vital... Making pinning down the problem tough. It's also possible to have cracks within the tooth structure which are invisible on examination or xray, but only become detectable when you take the filling out and investigate.
Neuralgia is when the nerves which supply an area are damaged (trauma, viral infections, and other causes), so the pain is real, but it's coming from the wiring, not he teeth. Also very tricky to diagnose, only way is to exclude every other cause, then maybe they show up on an MRI, though usually the diagnosis is made on clinical history plus improvement with some quite powerful medications.
HOWEVER
Common things occur commonly, go back and see your dentist. Your doctor will not be able to help.
Thanks. That's kind of the things I'm thinking. More than one thing going on. Dead/dying root was suggested also. Friends have suggested the cracked tooth. Typically would end up with an abscess? They said no sign of that but then would that show up anyway?
Dentist it is then. Been keeping a log of what hurts when which they suggested.
Just means another fee for the visit but then may be work to do which is more cost anyway. Maybe time to look into insurance. I have a "plan" but it's just covering routine check ups.
You mention going on holiday... Did you fly? Air pressure affecting sinuses? I had bad sinuses a couple of years ago, tooth and jaw ached like a so and so
Yeah flying. I was hoping that might sort it out actually. Maybe it did as week away it was loads better. Got back and it was worse. Plus was riding in mountains and warm Spanish air so maybe also helped that week.
I am suffering almost identical symptoms to the OP. When it gets really bad I take Ibuprofen, which helps but my dentist can't see anything on the X rays. He's recommended me to the dental hospital who have better equipment, apparently.
50p says it’s your sinuses, but I know bugger all. Try inhaling steam? You may get the rusty brown stuff running out of your nose
Sinus pain is generally a dull continuous ache, made worse by (weirdly), sticking your head between your legs, nipping your nose and trying to blow your nose... This increases the pressure in your nose and sinus. Generally patients are aware of being stuffed up, or having a post nasal drip.
Over the counter decongestants, olbas oil etc are effective (it's almost always viral, so antibiotics rarely appropriate unless it's a chronic / anatomical problem). Problem is, if present it can make other symptoms worse as some of the nerves exit the upper back teeth, then run into the sinus, nd can then be affected by inflammation present 'on the way', so to speak.
