I’ve just had a cracked bicuspid drilled out and a temporary crown fitted by a dentist I’ve been going to for 15 years or more, who’s pretty much a top-flight practitioner IMO.
The crack was causing toothache (duh), headache, and sensitivity to cold and noise. Now that the temp is in and the novocaine worn off, the aches are back and with a vengeance - throbbing, cliché ice-bag-around-the head pain. All I could eat for lunch was ice cream, and 2 Advil have provided zero relief.
Now my doc has been telling me surprisingly little about the cause of the pain when I’ve asked. He suggested it was an inflamed gum above the tooth in question (which I do have), but also acknowledged a cracked tooth could cause headache and even a stiff neck (supposedly from a misaligned bite). But today’s pain definitely is coming from the tooth nerve, which he had previously ruled out as the cause.
Of course I’m going to be phoning in the AM and getting a recommendation and/or script for pain reliever (hopefully non-opiate, as codeine always gives me a bad trip) as well as suggestions on helping the sore gum along. But in the meantime, I’d appreciate anyone’s toothache stories, especially if it got worse after a procedure, and what turned out to be the cause - and the relief.
There are so many things that can cause pain with teeth.
What’s even worse is teeth pain can radiate. I’ve actually had a tooth ache in one tooth only to find out when my dentist looked at it, that that tooth wasn’t the problem. The root was deep and tangled and infected on another tooth and the pain was radiating into that tooth.
Just because you have a cracked tooth doesn’t mean that is the bad one. It could be radiating pain.
Welp, I did just have X-rays. They showed nothing else wrong in the area, but doc says a hairline crack often doesn’t show until you drill in.
The bicuspid (tooth #4) broke sideways, along an inside-to-outside axis. The pain in #4 is radiating to the cuspid in front (#5) and the molar in back (#3).
It’s about time for more advil. I hope it works this time, because this toothache sucks big, big ones. No eating, no sleeping, no damn fun.
FWIW I am currently suffering with a similar problem. I’ve become well acquainted with my dentist over the past few months, chiefly after cracking tooth #4 (handy chart!), which had previously had a root canal, down the middle. I also had the wisdom tooth on the other side (#16 I presume) taken out, and some fillings done on upper and lower molars on that side, before having an implant done on the other side with the broken tooth.
Well, I have had no problems at all with the implant (currently waiting for the screw to heal), but since having the fillings done on the opposite side I have had really bad sensitivity. I have been back four or five times, had X-rays done etc, but the dentist seems to think either I am imagining it or it will disappear. All he’s done is put fluoride gel on it and given me desensitising toothpase. But I have to eat mostly on that side due to the implant, and any heat, cold, sweetness or even contact of any sort is painful.
Before I had the supposedly necessary fillings done, I had no pain from my teeth whatsoever. Now I am several thousand pounds poorer and in constant pain when eating.
Oof. I don’t know what to tell you about your sensitivity, other than can you get a 2nd opinion from another dentist? Oh, and mooshed cauliflower makes a pretty good side dish.
BTW, the last dose of advil is working, or maybe it’s the vodak I swilled afterwards.
I recently had 3 crowns done right in the front. I ate A LOT of popsicles with the temps in; it helped reduce the swelling, but, of course did nothing for cold sensitivity. Good luck!
