ongoing pain after crown/root canal/apeoectomy

[kindness goes along way]

I was eating and the back of my 4th molor broke off below the gum line.  Trobbing pain, went to the Dentist.  Dr. took xrays, said the break just missed the nerve and he could save the tooth with a crown.  Dr. placed temporary, 3 weeks of pain till Drs. asst. placed crown, I bite down hard as instructed to properly cement crown.  When I complained the Dr. said everyhing was fine and eventually the pain would calm down.  Severe pain for several months, finally went to regular Dr..  He said the tooth was dying, and prepped for root canal (used formaydyhyde for disinfecting  ???.  Went to endo, drilled, recleaned, redrilled. precautionary antibiotics. Endo used dye and light for possible missed tooth fracture, many xrays.  When Endo tapped on tooth it hurt also gum area behind the tooth, biting causes pain and dull pain is always therre.. Endo checked surrounding teeth with heat and cold, they were ok. Since I clench, I was fit with a hard splint. The pain continued so Endo did apeoectomy.  Bite fine.Endo is puzzled. The pain continues. No medications work.  I dont want lose my tooth.  I have had tooth pain from the beginning,  I ve wanted to tear the crown off.  could it be an ill fitting crown or to much dental work cuausing gum or nerve pain and if so can the tooth be saved or suggestions. I terrifed of who to even go to I cant afford more guesses.  This is a nightmare

[mike1105]

sounds like the pain is from this tooth. I doubt, if you remove this tooth which appears to be the culprit, that you will have ongoing unsolved dental pain. it sounds like your dentists may have tried to save a tooth heroicly that in retrospect may not have been salvageable. There comes a point where good judgement dictates to extract it. When teeth break below the gumline, that is a severe fracture, close to the nerve and to the delicate and sensitive hard and soft tissues around the roots of the tooth. I'd get another opinion from a good, general dentist to whom you are referred by family or a friend-- someone who does not stand to make $ by "trying" something else for this tooth and understands that for now you only want an opinion.

[kindness goes along way]

usually no pain in the morning, every day is diferent.  Yes,eating can cause pain. I can attouch the tooth and it hurts.  I am confused about all this. I wish I could speak with you or someone in more detail.   There are little things I do that will help alleviate the pain for sometime.  I have a bleaching tray that I will keep in my mouth all day.  Then little or no pain.  DO NOT have your tooth extracted until you sure its the tooth.  There are alot of good resources.  check out atypical neuralgia, also Claire Davis, referred pain from neck, facial muscles, Wesley Shankland,.  Let me know more about your symptoms and keep the thread going.  From the postings it would seem their are alot more people out there similar to us and they are being mis treated.  Seems alot of Drs. are stumpted.  To confuse issues, a Dr. told me a tooth, even root canal treated can continually hurt due to percussion injury (tissue nerves constantly inflamed..   I feel for you  and everyone else, having pain but not knowing whats wrong and being a guinea pig is to boot is sad.

[myn]

I too am experiencing a similar issue.  Had a crown and rootcanal in the same tooth and it still hurts.

Do you find that you have little or no pain when you wake up in the morning and that it gets progressively worst throughout the day?

Does the pain hurt more after you eat?

[ihave been i your shoes or your mouth]

I also spent four years on all of that oral stuff  Oragel, Tanac, ambesol Until one day it leaked in my car and ate a hole right through the center consil. I can't imagine what it has done to my insides. Be careful.

[kindness goes along way]

I never had any sign of an infection.  In  reading many of the posts there seems to be alot of permanent nerve pain problems.  Maybe presnt your question to the docs to keep this subject open.  I would be curious to know of the people who have responded what their out comes are.  Its hard to give limited info , I would be nice if we could converse in depth. I use alot of oral gel and ice helps alittle, pain medication dulls it.  Stress can also cause havoc with our teeth,referred pain from tense facial muscles. Try to get as much info as you can, and as one stated go to a teaching hospital, if you can.  I feel your pain and wish you the best of luck.

[Chrisnapos]

I also have tremendous pain.  8 years ago I had root canal. Dentist placed a crown.  All was well.  4 yrs ago, I had tremendous pain in the same area.  Oral surgeon wanted to take out my tooth.  I realized that I had an infection because the surgeon cut the ball of puss that had developed, drained it, and gave me anitbiotics.  I was cured without having to take out my tooth to the dismay of the oral surgeon.  Two months ago the same thing started to happen and I took antibiotics and it went away.  Its now October and it came back but with a vengance.  I went to the dentist and he and the periodontist cannot understand what is wrong.  X-rays show that all is well.  They referred me to another oral surgeon.  Motrin is not working.  I am in so much pain!!!

[kindness goes along way]

I suffer no chronic fatigue and have had all blood work done.  I agree with the other posts and the neuralgia ?????   Please keep me posted Michele.  you say chewing helped your pain and zanax which is  a muscle relaxant.  This would cause me to believe your problems may be coming from your TMJ muscles, since these two souces due relieve   pain.  Check into referred pain and trigger points.   Good references are by Travel and Simons, Clair Davis and a book called Taking Control of TMJ.  I would rather try the what I call sensible and holistic approach.  Good body mechanics Exercise, such as yoga and low impact arobics, diet, and proper nutrition.

[kindness goes along way]

Absolutely not GLOSSODYNIA!!!!!!    MicheleDG check out the website www.ENDTHEPAIN.ORG  a non-profit organization into the on-going research of trigeminal neuralgia.  Please keep us posted on your journey.  I wish you the best and will keep you in my prayer's.

[ihave been i your shoes or your mouth]

i don't know if you read enough into the Glossodynia but i suffered for almost four years from one root canal I was turned away from dr after dr  nuerologist accuppuncture  oral surgeons etc for years worth of pain round the clock 24 hours a day the only thing that subsided the pain was chewing it made the pain dissapear I even slept with gum in my mouth I finally talked the Dr into giving me Xanax after four years the pain is gone I am on very low dose. If you visit the Mayo Clinic.com burning mouth syndrome you may be surprised at all of the symptoms you carry and you don't even realize it. After I went to a regular Dr with the Glossodynia info we did ALL of my blood work and it came back with Epstein Bare (chronic fatigue) and Lupus don't give up

[kindness goes along way]

Anyone, please let me know if it is improper to give out websites, or books to read on discussed subject?.  Went to Endo he thinks maybe neuralgia.  Endo does not refer and is finished with me.  Am on anti - convulsants for another condition and has had no effect on pain. So for time being will rule this out. # 1. I want to find out if it is  possible that I have an ill fitting crown since this was never investigated.  I would think that if all it takes is to pop the crown off it could be covered with a temporary and I could see if the pain resided.  #2.  If the pain dosn't reside would that indicate that  there is a crack or posible microscopic crack that couldn't otherwise be seen.  #3.  I want to know if it is possible to numb the masseter, lateral and medial pterygoids and see if I get any relief.  Then before I have the tooth removed I will see a neuro,  and if that not the cause,  I will have no other recourse than to have the "obnoxious tooth extracted"  I need to keep a sense of humor.  Good luck to everyone.

[ihave been i your shoes or your mouth]

look up GLOSSODYNIA

[MicheleDG]

I have a similar situation.  My dentist did root canals & I cont. to have pain...months later I am finding out that a nerve was injured & I have a neuralgia.  Go to a neurologist & dental specialists w/ experience would immediately send u there.   I ended up w/ several root canals, 2 retreatments, 2 apeoctomies & after coming up on a yr, the neuraligia is still there & I was told that there is a broken file still in 1 of the root canals & may have to have others retreated along w/ another surgery to "clean out" the area where a couple teeth were extracted.  Right now I'm in the waiting process.  I chose to not take the nerve pain med that was precribed & took alternative direction, so always in pain every day --the amt. varies.   I found that when sent out to specialists, I had a couple that turned me down & 1 that came out & said he didn't want involved..  I do believe if someone that knew what was going on would had stepped in, I wouldn't be in this situation to start w/.    What happened to patient care first?    

If ur not getting results from ur dentist, GO somewhere else & soon!!!   After all these months I went to a teaching hospital & to someone that is a specialist in the oral surgery/neuro surgery area.   I go back in sev. wks.

Hope this helps.

[kindness goes along way]

last post (mike) said it sounds like its coming from the tooth.  Both the Endo and dentist said the pain can't be from the tooth since its dead especially after having the root canal proedures.  I'm confused?  Do you mean the living tissue around the tooth?  Thank you

[kindness goes along way]

Thank you for responding so soon.  There wasn't enough room on the post.  The Endo Dr. was a professor if this means anything.  the last thing he said to me was don't let anyone pull your tooth without an explaination as to why it is so painful.  He said there is a whole Pandora's box out there and you could have one tooth pulled after another.  Know wonder I'm terrified. The Endo was also concerned that damage could have resulted from the use of formaldahyde. I feel I am looking at having the tooth pulled.  I still have all my natural teeth (in my 50's) and # 3 and #5 have fillings is a bridge or a implant more practicle.  Which would be less likely to give me problems.  I hear about so many people with unresolved dental pain.  I just don't want anymore.  Thank you all so much for your caring time and valuable information.  This is a wonderful website.  God bless

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

I can certainly understand your frustration with the situation. The bottom line is that you are still in pain after all that was done to the tooth. I can only suggest two options, one being to get another opinion from another endodontist or general practictioner or extract the tooth. I know the last option is not what you want to hear but sometimes no matter what you do to save the tooth it goes for naught.