40 yr. old crown give or take, started hurting bad last Wed. Got in, dentist whom I adore & trust said bacteria got in when gums receded. Yanked out cap, post , drilled FOR HOURS, now a temporary cap.
It freaking still hurts like hell. Started the amoxicillin the day before(500 mg) , still taking them, got 6 hydrocodone/amoxicillin for pain at night to sleep. Advil works pretty well daytime (4 at a time-poor liver) I clench at night which sets off the wounded tooth.
Should this hurt this much 4 days later? Any chance there could still be nerve in there? Dentist said it’s just pain from a very heavy duty procedure & pain is normal.
Thoughts?
That’s a ton of trauma. I’m guessing you’re still swollen. In addition to the Advil, maybe start icing it.
Dentist here, most people are feeling better in a day or two but for some teeth it can take longer. Not likely to be nerve left but remember he ripped a nerve out and where it enters the tooth, in the jaw, is what hurts. Not sure that bacteria would suddenly get in after 40 years, recession or not. More likely the nerve just started dying from the trauma years ago. I don’t normally prescribe antibiotics unless there is a cellulitus, difuse swelling in the tissues around the tooth as opposed to an acute abcess, swelling (think pimple) at the base of the tooth. I assume the amox is four times a day. Heat usually helps. Wash cloth, hot water for 10-15 min several times a day. On the advil, two every four hours works better then four every eight hours. Have him reduce the bite on the temp crown especially since you clench. There is no need at this time for that tooth to touch when your teeth are together. They virtually always get better but sometimes not fast enough. Hope this helps.
I’ve had more than my share of root canals, crowns, replacement crowns, etc. and only 1 caused that amount of pain post procedure. I think it was the swelling that caused it to be so painful & I think it lasted about a week.
Thanks!!