Toothache of undiagnosed nature lasting long time

Posted , 3 users are following.

I had an occasional sensitivity pain in my upper right side tooth and the dentist found a small decay in the second molar. The filling was removed and a temorary crown was placed. SInce then my current permanent pain started. The permanent crown did not stop the pain. Then the root canal was done. Still pain remained. The pain is definetly comeing from the upper right side but it is not very localized. It feels like it is coming from the gum area that covers three teeth.

So I had a premoral extracted. Pain stayed. Second moral removed about 2 weeks ago and still painful. Now the dentist says the x-rays are all good and he thinks the pain may be of not a dental nature.

The pain is constant, not very localaized. It is dull adn not sharp. Touching the face does not trigger more pain. Chewing on foot irritates the pain and it gets worse for a while (30 minutes) and then subsides to the usual level. Touching the gum in the upper right side or the remaining first molar hurts a little. But the other 2 extracted teeth also hurt like that and now I doubt the first moalr is the cause.

Pain also radiates to all other teeth. It is not a strong pain. More like sensitivity pian when you bite down your jaws.

Another starge thing that I am not sure if it is related to the toothache is I have a very light right ear popping when swallowing or hiccupping. It has also been going on for several months juts like the toothache.

I don't know if I have atypical odontalgia or atypical trigeminal neuralgia. Or something esle.

Any help would be appreciated.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Well, it's definitely not trigeminal neuralgia, Edward. I'm a former neuro nurse and I also had a brief attack of TN myself, associated with shingles. Trust me - you'd really know if you had that. The slightest touch on your face sends unbearable pain down all three branches of the nerve!

    The ear-popping thing makes me wonder about some kind of temporomandibular disorder, possibly brought on by an incorrectly fitted crown altering your bite. I can't quite make out from your post whether the tooth on which you had the root canal and the crown done is one of the teeth that's been removed.

    It seems a shame that your dentist continued extracting other teeth willy-nilly, unless there was something seriously wrong with them. I don't think you should go back to the same dentist! Is there any possibility you can get a referral (or self-refer if you're in a country where that's allowed) to a maxillofacial surgeon? They're the ones who would be better qualified to address your problem.

    • Posted

      Thanks for your reply.

      Yes, the tooth with the crown that strated it all was extracted. I aslo saw an oral surgeon before going ahead with extractions. CBCT was made and some dark spot justified the extraction. Unfortunately, it did not do the trick.

      I asked about a possible case of atypical TN. If I ma not mistaked it's symptoms are different from regular TN and may not be severe and may not have trigger zones on the face.

      Frankly speaking I am completly lost now trying to figure out what causes the pain to remain. I have thought about TMJ but I have no other pains or problems with my jaw.

       

    • Posted

      Oh, I also did two courses of antibiotics (penicillin) for 9 days each within the last several months to rule out any sort of infection. No change.
    • Posted

      Still doesn't sound like TN, even the atypical kind.

      I suppose it's possible that the pain is simply a reaction to having had so much dental work done in what sounds like a relatively short period. In my experience, a root canal can cause years of pain, even after the tooth has been extracted. That's personal experience - root canal on 1st lower molar 18 years ago followed by 9 years of constant pain, unable to chew on that side etc., no reason found for the pain, finally culminating in a nasty sublingual access. Tooth removed under antibiotic cover by an oral surgeon and I still have some pain in the area today, 9 years later! (But it's improved steadily over the years.)

      I'd suggest watchful waiting, plus check-ups with an oral or maxillofacial surgeon from time to time. Are you planning to have implants, btw? If so, I'd hang on a bit before going for that one. I didn't, as I've still got a full set of teeth on that side of my mouth, upper and lower (including wisdoms) so could afford to spare one!

    • Posted

      Thanks again. Yes, pain from the dental work would be the best case scenario. I would love to believe this is what I have but I have so many doubts.

      Constant dull pain that never goes away over the last 6 months and comes from a general gum area. So that I could never pinpoint exactly to the tooth it was coming from. A referred pain to the other teeth is also concerning.

      I need one implant or a bridge but I think I need to wait to figure one this pain first before getting anything done.

       

    • Posted

      Hey Edward im just wondering if you ever got a diagnosis or relief,from what i read your pain sounds so similar to mine witch has been going on for 3 years with little to no releif or answers sad

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