unexplainable tooth ache

loztredders

Been suffering with tooth pain since Saturday so booked into see the emergency dentist this morning.
She had a look at the teeth, did a gum probe, cold air and tap test and took an xray . There is no obvious reason for the pain.

The pain felt like it was localised in the second premolar, this tooth appears completely healthy. The molar behind it has a largish amalgam filling - about 11 years old but appears fine.

I'm also 31 weeks pregnant so can't take any painkillers other than paracetemol which is making everything a million times worse.

I go back on Friday so she can have another look and possibly replace the filling and have a look at my wisdom tooth which she thinks could possibly be the problem, but the pain seems to be coming from much further forward in my mouth.

Anyone else had unexplained tooth pain? It's a dull ache, not super sensitive to hot, cold or sugar etc....

jenniewb

Ask for a second opinion? Not had any pain that wasn't picked up on an xray other than sensitivity.

Cyberman60

It could just be an infection. I had bad toothache in 2006, took amoxycillin and it cleared up.

belfastgirl23

Tooth grinding? Or clenching? Is this a tooth you would bite down on particularly hard if your teeth were clenched?

Toothsmith

jenniewb wrote: »

Ask for a second opinion? Not had any pain that wasn't picked up on an xray other than sensitivity.

A second opinion would just mean another dentist looking at it fresh.

It's not unusual for an 'odd' pain ( often called 'atypical pain' to make it sound cleverer and more medical) to take a few goes to find out exactly what it is.

The trigeminal nerve - which supplies feeling (and therefore pain) sensations to the face and mouth is notoriously inaccurate, and often pain experienced in what the patient thinks is one particular tooth, can actually be coming from somewhere completely different.

So - having the same dentist working methodically through the possibilities is often a lot better than running off to a new dentist if the first one doesn't 'get it' first time. The second dentist will still have to work through the same possibilities - and so it might well be back to square one.

The first dentist is still working on it - so I would let them. It isn't always easy and obvious.

loztredders

I have had clenching issues in the past but the pain has always been felt on the other side of my mouth.


Thanks Toothsmith.

It's funny though that now I've been told it isn't the tooth I thought it was the pain does actually seem to be coming from further back in my mouth now.

pendragon_arther

It could be an abscess.

comeandgo

Has dentist done x Ray? I have very long roots to my teeth and one of the roots was touching where it should not and causing extreme pain. Tooth itself was healthy but had to come out.

paddyrg

Sinus swelling can present as toothache, it can press on the same nerves.

loztredders

Yea had xray done.

Surely an absess or infection would show on an xray?

jenniewb

loztredders wrote: »

Yea had xray done.

Surely an absess or infection would show on an xray?

That's what I've always been told. Unless the infection is in another part of the mouth and for some reason has affected a nerve elsewhere? (nothing to qualify that with, just hazarding a guess). Not sure if it's any help but they may be able to offer you pain relief if they know what type of pain it is, via your GP or the Dentists.