Tooth pain in reaction to cold

[writermtp]

Five days ago I developed some nagging pain in my upper right jaw. It would occur mostly when I drank something cold (I don't drink hot beverages so cold was the only thing bothering it). The pain was not consistent and would usually subside within a few minutes.

I've been told I have acute gingivitis so I thought maybe my gums were inflamed and a root was exposed. I was able to pinpoint that it was coming from tooth #5.

I went to my dentist today. He blew cold air on it and I almost jumped out of the chair from the pain. He said, "That's going to need a root canal."

They took an x-ray and a few minutes later he came back and asked if I was having any sinus issues. I said yes, from pollen (I think) but also maybe residual issues from having a cold about 3-4 weeks ago. He said the x-ray showed no infection in the tooth and no decay. He prescribed me amoxicillin (500 mg, 3x per day for 6 days, and a refill if necessary.

He said if the pain doesn't go away then I might need a root canal or have the tooth pulled anyway.

I'm skeptical and asking for advice here because I had a terrible root canal experience on the other side of my mouth about two months ago and the tooth ended up being pulled after a week of excruciating pain.

Could sinus infection or inflammation cause the type of pain I was describing? If there's no infection and no decay, why would I need a root canal or extraction at all?

Thank you for reading this.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

I agree with your dentist.  It may or may not need a root canal.  The amoxicillin is used to clear up a sinus infection and if the problem is solved, then it basically means the sinus was causing your pain.  The teeth can feel pain or sensitive due to the closeness of the roots to the sinus.  If there's no decay, then its possible there may be a fracture or some trauma has cause the pulp inside the tooth to die, resulting in pain/inflammation/irritation.  Usually patients feel more throbbing and aches near the roots of the tooth and sometimes sensitivity with chewing with sinusitis.  Cold sensitivity, to me, seems to indicate the need for a root canal.

[writermtp]

Sorry, forgot to include that the x-ray showed the roots of two teeth (one of them #5) going right up against the inflamed sinus, which is why he asked about the sinus in the first place.