Maxillofacial referral - dental help please

Saffythecat

Can anyone help, please? I posted in February about a “bruised tooth”,which showed no symptoms on x-ray or exam by my dentist other than being sore. The tooth is the upper front tooth. On Tuesday I had a routine checkup, and told the dentist that the tooth was still sore, and that I had a buzzy, nervy feeling going between it and my nose. She redid the x-ray, and was puzzled to see a large dark shadow around that tooth and its neighbour. (Even to my non-medical eye, it was visible when she showed me the two x-rays side by side.) Neither teeth has any decay, neither has ever been filled, and I have no gum disease. The dentist tested both teeth with some sort of spray from a tin on a cotton bud type thing, and both were responsive to cold. The suggested treatment was root canal on both, which was booked for 24 April.

On Thursday she rang me saying she had reviewed the x-rays with a colleague, and was concerned about the unusual presentation she had seen. She said she didn’t want to go in and do RCT in case it wasn’t the teeth which was the problem, and was going to refer me to the hospital.

I am scared, in pain, and concerned that there will be a long wait - she said 2/4 months. The teeth directly underneath have been sore since Tuesday too (also no decay, never filled) whuch I initially thought was sensitivity after the scale and polish, but I am now afraid have similar infection sitting behind them. Does anyone have any experience of this sort of referral, what I can expect, and what might be causing my woes? I don’t have private medical insurance so am not in a position to pay to speed things up.

Thanks for reading if you did.

goodone2

It's probably nothing, but it's worth getting the hospital to check it out.
That's all you can do at this stage until we have more information.

adandem

No advice I'm afraid but hope you get sorted quickly.
Thank goodness they didn't go ahead with the root canals if they're not needed.
Try not to worry too much .

Saffythecat

I would happily have the root canals if they stopped the pain! I have had a year of dental hell, caused by clenching due to stress - just this year I have spent £2,000 on root canals with an endodontist.

I wonder if I would be better with a full clearance and dentures? I am 45. I am missing both lower molars on the left - still have the wisdom tooth - and one on the right, plus one upper wisdom tooth, but had four teeth removed as a child by the orthodontist because my teeth are big and they were going to be really crowded. My teeth actually look great, really white and straight, but I am so fed up of pain and endless appointments and treatment. My dentist must feel like crying when she sees my name on her list.

Sncjw

You will see dentist in outpatients at hospital and then they make a plan unlikely they will do anything that day

Saffythecat

Thanks - would the plan then be carried out by my own dentist? I am seeing her in a week and going to make a list of questions, I think.

Sncjw

The plan will be done at the hospital as that!!!8217;s why your dentist has referred you

Saffythecat

Thanks Sncjw - sorry if that was a stupid question, I am just really worried, and as an anxious patient a bit scared of being treated by someone else. If the hospital treats me will it cost the same as the dentist? I am an NHS patient in Scotland.

Sncjw

I!!!8217;m not sure about Scotland but in England if hospital treats you it!!!8217;s free

Saffythecat

Thank you. I am more than happy to pay, It!!!8217;s just that I want to be able to budget for it. I!!!8217;ve paid out £2,000 with an endodontist already this year which has wiped out my savings! More than anything though, I just want to be out of pain.

Saffythecat

Just an update to say I got the appointment through today. I am scared it!!!8217;s something sinister as it was done so quickly, but I suppose it!!!8217;s better to know.