"Bruised" tooth pain

Saffythecat

Hi, I am having pain in my upper front tooth (incisor) and my dentist says the tooth has been bruised/sprained with clenching and grinding. Has anyone had this before? Is it likely to settle down?

The tooth has never had a filling in it or any other work, and on an x-ray/physical check showed no problems when I went to the dentist on Friday. I am a bruxist, and wear a night guard. I have just finished a root canal on an upper molar - on the other side of my mouth - and am about to start a re-root treatment on the tooth in front tomorrow, so have been really anxious and probably clenching my teeth more than usual.

If the pain doesn't go, what next? My dentist said a root canal on the tooth would be straightforward (single, very straight root) and she could do it without referring me to the endodontist I am seeing for the back teeth.

Toothsmith

I have told a patient of mine a very similar thing this morning!

Sounds a very sensible diagnosis from the information given. Chances are it will settle, but as your dentist has said, treatment is straightforward on the off-chance it doesn't

Teeth, particularly front teeth, don't always need a filling in them to be at risk of curling their toes up and dying. A history of trauma to the area (A bike crash, a hockey stick in the face etc etc) from even several years beforehand can cause an abscess - but often you notice the tooth darkening if this has happened.

Saffythecat

Thanks for your reply, Toothsmith - that is reassuring. The tooth's not had any trauma that I can recall, so hopefully it will settle down. Given that I'm already under the care of an endodontist for the back teeth, if it comes to it, would it be best to have him do the RCT, or would a general dentist be okay in these circumstances? My own dentist was concerned that the upper molar had really curvy roots so said she would attempt the root canal, but it might need referred out if she couldn't get to the ends - I opted not to mess about and go straight to the endodontist. The difference in cost is huge, but I am conscious that he took two x two-hours on that tooth while the matching lower one was done by my own dentist in one x one-hour. I'm an NHS patient but in a mainly private surgery - my dentist is fabulous and I am 100% confident in her, but given that it's a front tooth I'm willing to pay for the endo to do it if necessary.

Saffythecat

Oh, and the tooth is definitely not discoloured. My teeth may be cracking up all over the place, but they are beautifully white and straight!

Toothsmith

I would only worry about endodontist if it becomes necessary, and if it does, be guided by your dentist. She seems to be a decent one! And has the huge advantage over me that she can actually see you!

Saffythecat

I saw the endodontist today for the first bit of the re-RCT and he had a look at the front tooth - he said to leave it a week before going back to the dentist, and agreed that there was nothing !!!8220;clinically wrong!!!8221; with it. He also said my own dentist was more than able to do the procedure if required.

Stage one of the re-treatment went fine, and he found the missed canal, so hopefully all will be well. There were a few tears at the start when he said he suspected a perforation on the x-ray, and said the tooth might need extracted - but he couldn!!!8217;t tell until he opened it - but it was all okay.

WalterShannon

Trust to your dentist and do all he says to you. For reducing the pain I can recommend 1 little spoon of soda and 1 little spoon of salt for 1 glass of warm water and rinse your mouth every 1-2 hours. It will help I can assure you!

Saffythecat

Just an update on this. I went for a checkup this morning, and mentioned that the tooth was still uncomfortable and that I had a buzzy nervy feeling above it. She redid the x-ray which showed !!!8220;significant changes!!!8221; and a dark area around that tooth and the one next to it. Neither has ever had work done before, but it looks like I have knackered the nerves with clenching, and both now need root canal. God. On the plus side my gums were deemed perfect on the BPE test, so that!!!8217;s something.

goodone2

Grinding teeth can cause all sorts of problems.