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jjmh93 · Sep 20, 2007, 12:49 PM

Hi I had a root canal and the tooth needs a crown, but I am petrified of the dentist. The tooth never had pain until the dentist touched my tooth two years ago. Now the tooth has pain every now and then. The other night that same tooth had pain, but the pain was gone in the morning. The next night the same thing happened and the pain was gone this morning. Then today the pain came back for a little while. Now, it's gone. I also grind my teeth at night and have pain in my ear on the opposite side, pain in my jaw on the same side as the root canal from time to time, and pain like a muscle pull in my neck in the area where someone's voice box is and pain on the part that sticks out on the ear on that side. Could the pain be from grinding or could my tooth have an abscess? Please help. Thanks.

Erin864 · Sep 20, 2007, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by jjmh93

hi i had a root canal and the tooth needs a crown, but i am petrified of the dentist. the tooth never had pain until the dentist touched my tooth two years ago. now the tooth has pain every now and then. the other night that same tooth had pain, but the pain was gone in the morning. the next night the same thing happened and the pain was gone this morning. then today the pain came back for a little while. now, it's gone. i also grind my teeth at night and have pain in my ear on the opposite side, pain in my jaw on the same side as the root canal from time to time, and pain like a muscle pull in my neck in the area where someones voice box is and pain on the part that sticks out on the ear on that side. could the pain be from grinding or could my tooth have an abscess? please help. thanks.

The tooth is probably absessed. You should go to the dentist. Have no fear; he will just give you anti-biotics.

jjmh93 · Sep 20, 2007, 01:21 PM

Hi erin,
You really think it's an abscess? What about all of the other pain due to the grinding? Thanks.

CaptainRich · Sep 20, 2007, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by jjmh93

hi i had a root canal and the tooth needs a crown, but i am petrified of the dentist. the tooth never had pain until the dentist touched my tooth two years ago. now the tooth has pain every now and then. the other night that same tooth had pain, but the pain was gone in the morning. the next night the same thing happened and the pain was gone this morning. then today the pain came back for a little while. now, it's gone. i also grind my teeth at night and have pain in my ear on the opposite side, pain in my jaw on the same side as the root canal from time to time, and pain like a muscle pull in my neck in the area where someones voice box is and pain on the part that sticks out on the ear on that side. could the pain be from grinding or could my tooth have an abscess? please help. thanks.

Let me see if I got this straight: You had a R/C two years ago and didn't crown it? Is that what you're saying?
The tooth can be abscessed or the tooth on either side could be a problem, too. Or gum related conditions.

Without the crown in place, whether you grind/gnash or just during meals, the teeth will load differently and that variation can cause discomfort.

You should consult a DMD that can run a panoramic x-ray of your dental plane, and evaluate the entire picture instead of just one tooth at a time.

jjmh93 · Sep 20, 2007, 04:05 PM

thanks captain rich. Yes that is correct. There dentist did a root canal two years ago, and the tooth has never been the same. Before I had the root canal, I had no pain, just a broken tooth w/a filling. You have to understsand, I am so scared of the dentist it's pothetic. I'm a 39 year old married woman w/two kids. It's not the drilling or the novicane that bother me at all, it's the x-rays. I have a very bad gag reflex and I have a really hard time having x rays done. I'm considering dentist sedation. I have beautiful teeth but I don't want to end up with false teeth. Getting back to the bad tooth, I do clench very badly. Sometimes I'll catch myself watching TV, etc clenching. I don't think it's the teeth next to this tooth. I just have to bite the bullet as they say and go to the dentist. Do you have any knowledge on dental sedation? If so, is it safe? I also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and am overweight. Please help. Thanks

KISS · Sep 20, 2007, 04:22 PM

Your problem is easy to fix. Do some research and find a dentist that is capable of doing digital x-rays. Your biggest problem solved.

http://www.mindfully.org/Technology/...tal29nov05.htm

CaptainRich · Sep 20, 2007, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by jjmh93

thanks captain rich. yes that is correct. ther dentist did a root canal two years ago, and the tooth has never been the same. before i had the root canal, i had no pain, just a broken tooth w/a filling. you have to understsand, i am so scared of the dentist it's pothetic. i'm a 39 year old married woman w/two kids. it's not the drilling or the novicane that bother me at all, it's the xrays. i have a very bad gag reflex and i have a really hard time having x rays done. i'm considering dentist sedation. i have beautiful teeth but i don't want to end up with false teeth. getting back to the bad tooth, i do clench very badly. sometimes i'll catch myself watching tv, etc clenching. i don't think it's the teeth next to this tooth. i just have to bite the bullet as they say and go to the dentist. do you have any knowledge on dental sedation? if so, is it safe? I also have high blood pressure and high cholesterol and am overweight. please help. thanks

I have just recently been "under" and I found it, for my operation, to be the way to go. Mind you, I too was apprehensive about going all the way out, but the people made me relaxed and the entire process seemed to take no time and very little discomfot, even after. The DMD can discuss high blood pressure with your consultation, and may recommend partial sedation.

jjmh93 · Sep 20, 2007, 06:34 PM

Thanks captain rich
I don't want to be completely out. I would like to see if they can do partial sedation. Your answers have been very helpful. Thanks again.

flossie · Sep 21, 2007, 02:37 AM

If you are having pain in your ear and your jaw and hypersensitivity off and on it probably IS from grinding. What have stress levels been like for you?
Is the tooth that had the root canal sensitive when you bite on it? Is it sensitive to hot only? These symptoms might indicate that the root canal wasn't successful. This could happen even if you had had it crowned.
If you are "petrified" of the dentist find someone who does "conscious sedation". This will help take the edge off.

jjmh93 · Sep 21, 2007, 04:07 AM

Hi flossie,
My stress level has been... not so great. I worry about money and not being able to pay our bills. My husband was out of work for five weeks and he wasn't able to work overtime, so we fell behind on our bills. We're slowly getting caught up, but it's been pretty tough. I'm not the type of person to show it, but maybe when I'm sleeping is when my body is reacting to the stress by me clenching? I often catch myself, like right now just sitting and clenching. It's a bad habit that I cannot seem to break. I have some antibiotics and was wondering if I should take them just to be on the safe side. It's clyndomycen and that's what I took after I had my root canal. How would I know if it was an abscess? The pain has subsided in the tooth, but what if the abscess broke and I don't know it? Would I feel sick? How would I feel? How would I know? Would I have a constant bad taste in my mouth? Thanks.

CaptainRich · Sep 21, 2007, 04:31 AM

Originally Posted by jjmh93

Hi flossie,
My stress level has been...not so great. I worry about money and not being able to pay our bills. My husband was out of work for five weeks and he wasn't able to work overtime, so we fell behind on our bills. We're slowly getting caught up, but it's been pretty tough. I'm not the type of person to show it, but maybe when I'm sleeping is when my body is reacting to the stress by me clenching? I often catch myself, like right now just sitting and clenching. It's a bad habit that I cannot seem to break. I have some antibiotics and was wondering if I should take them just to be on the safe side. It's clyndomycen and that's what I took after I had my root canal. How would I know if it was an abscess? The pain has subsided in the tooth, but what if the abscess broke and I don't know it? Would I feel sick? How would I feel? How would I know? Would I have a constant bad taste in my mouth? Thanks.

Any excess swelling or tenderness in the general area of the tooth?

Stress is a major contributor to clenching/grinding. Finding ways to deal with that stress will be a very good idea because it can have attributes in other areas of your health as well.

I wouldn't self prescribe. You may use something like Advil or Tylenol until you get in to see your dentist.

jjmh93 · Sep 21, 2007, 10:28 AM

No, there is no tenderness. VERY VERY little swelling. I do have a dull headache in the temple area from time to time as well as me clenching just sitting, driving, etc. I started to take the antibiotics as a percautinary and I'll go from there and I'll call the dentist in my area for conscious sedation.

flossie · Sep 21, 2007, 05:16 PM

First of all... the antibiotic you were prescribed after the root canal should have been taken until they were ALL GONE. ALL antibiotics should be finished, even if you are feeling better. They are most effective when the proper dosage is taken (meaning all of the tablets in the bottle).
It really sounds to me like grinding/clenching. If you are getting discomfort while sitting at the computer you are clenching. Sitting at a computer puts you in a forward head posture which causes you to clench.
You need to find some way to relieve your stress. Yoga, tai chi, walking, running, etc. will help.
The root canal should have taken care of the abscess (the clindamycin would have made sure of it). I wouldn't over stress the fact that the tooth is abscessed. If you aren't having any hot sensitivity or there isn't a bump (pimple like that drains) over the root canalled tooth, I'd bet it's A-OK.

jjmh93 · Sep 21, 2007, 06:11 PM

Hi Flossie,
I did finish the antibiotics. This is another prescription. I would never not finish any antibiotic. Better safe than sorry. As for my tooth, it never had an abscess. I had the root canal done two years ago and started the other day w/the pain, so I panicked and thought maybe it could have been an abscess. I started another round of antibiotics and when they're done I'll go back to see the dentist. I personally think it's from clenching too but I wanted to be safe. I read up on the computer what can happen if an abscess breaks, and it's not a good thing. How common is it if an abscess bursts? Thanks.

CaptainRich · Sep 21, 2007, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by jjmh93

Hi Flossie,
I did finish the antibiotics. This is another prescription. I would never not finish any antibiotic. Better safe than sorry. As for my tooth, it never had an abscess. I had the root canal done two years ago and started the other day w/the pain, so I panicked and thought maybe it could have been an abscess. I started another round of antibiotics and when they're done I'll go back to see the dentist. I personally think it's from clenching too but I wanted to be safe. I read up on the computer what can happen if an abscess breaks, and it's not a good thing. How common is it if an abscess bursts? Thanks.

I still say you shouldn't be taking prescription meds for this until you're told to.
If you take these now, the next script may not be effective. STOP!

An abscess may or may not be common. That isn't the issue.

You really should go see a real live DMD to have YOUR condition analyzed.

You said you wanted to be safe?? :confused:

Do you not believe us? GO!! :mad:

jjmh93 · Sep 23, 2007, 05:42 AM

Of course I believe you and I am being safe. I am going to the dentist after I finish the medication.