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Toothache

(58 Posts)
BlueBelle Fri 18-Nov-16 21:30:21

About a month ago I had toothache and some swelling in a back tooth I went straight to the dentist expecting to lose the tooth but no he assured me he wanted to save the tooth it was well worth saving and would need a root canal then a crown ...so he did a procedure of cleaning out the canal and sent me home for it to settle until he did the rest of the procedure which should have been Thursday, everything settled down nicely all the pain went and I toddled off to have the tooth finished off on Thursday , unfortunately although it wasn't bothering me he found I still had an infection so 40 minutes and a lot of cleaning of the root lots of pushing and shoving and flushing out etc etc and sent home for it to settle again, it was sore once the feeling came back and by yesterday I had a hard swelling and masses of pain I have tried ringing out of hours this evening hoping I might get some anti biotic soon to start me off before I try and get an emergency appointment tomorrow well for half an hour I have answered every question under the sun including the fact that the pain in the jaw is not a heart attack or tentenus but a dental pain which I told them a number of times during the call I also assured them the swelling was not a lump not did I have a massive temperature and I had only taken 8 paracetamol in the last 24 hours I was then given a telephone number to ring TOMORROW ....... I could easily have found for myself Aanyway I m In a lot of pain feel very sorry for myself and could cheerful cut my head off
Sorry for the winge ....

cornergran Tue 27-Dec-16 07:40:47

kitty has reminded me that when I was plagued with facial pain - no dental issues were found just a lot of pain - the GP referred me to a maxillofacial surgeon. The title seemed a bit scary to someone bordering on dental phobia but it was the right referral for me. He was not only knowledgeable and thorough but very kind, helpful with pain management and refused to discharge me until the source of the pain was found and assessed. An urgent referral could be very helpful for you.

J52 Tue 27-Dec-16 08:24:15

Sorry I haven't read the whole thread. Has the dentist taken an ex ray of your gum?

I had a similar recurring problem in the 'hinge' bit of my jaw. My then dentist insisted it was poor cleaning! He was going to do Micro surgery on the gum, to 'sort it'! As I was a private patient, I never went back! But I went to a different dentist with a small filling that needed redoing.

He ex rayed my gums, the result was a minor op, as a day patient to remove the growth ( that had been there for a long time), the impacted wisdom tooth that was underneath and a small portion of my jaw!
Get an ex ray or at least a second opinion. Good luck!

Bellanonna Tue 27-Dec-16 09:47:12

I was about to suggest referral to a maxillofacial specialist, and see someone has mentioned this. Sounds as though it's progressed beyond what the dentist can deal with and I'm surprised he hasn't referred you already, I was referred a few years ago fior something far less painful. Please see your GP. Just go along and ask to be slotted in and then ask for an urgent referral. You have taken lots of antibiotics over a few months and it's time to get this investigated more thoroughly. If it means a minor operation to remove some bone, then so be it. I'm so surprised your dentist has allowed you to carry on this far. What was he expecting would happen? I don't believe in miracles so do get to the GP. As for salt water rinses..... the lucky poster has clearly never suffered severe dental pain.

BlueBelle Tue 27-Dec-16 14:56:13

I ve had about four X-rays J52 and each time you can see a shaded area which is below the tooth that he has cleaned the root of twice in anticipation of a root canal filling
He did explain that many people do have cysts that aren't troublesome unless they become infected so I m guessing he's just trying to get me free of the infection before he proceeds any further he also said they often just go eventually on their own

I ve made a doctors appointment the first I could get which is Jan 3rd and with a new doctor I ve never heard of before but no problem there I will ring the dentist tomorrow and pass the message on via the receptionist and see what he suggests

Charleygirl Tue 27-Dec-16 14:58:51

That is a good plan BlueBelle and your dentist must sort out your pain relief.

J52 Tue 27-Dec-16 17:32:42

Hope they can sort it out between them.

clementine Mon 02-Jan-17 16:40:42

Oh my goodness Bluebell, my heart goes out to you. You have been given lots of sensible advice by others , and I am praying you soon get this settled and get relief. I know when I had the dental abscess, it was the stress of it returning that made me so washed out, every little twinge had my nerves wrecked. I wonder would your dentist refer you on to the dental department of your local hospital ? Perhaps you need as has already been suggested, to be seen by an oral maxillary facial surgeon ? Stronger analgesia such as Co Codomal 30/500 ( prescription only) may help.