Sensitive Teeth - Dental Health Message Board

Gellia · 05-26-2009, 05:43 AM

Hi,

I developed extremely sensitive teeth after root planing and scaling.
So much so, that the entire left side of my face has been affected all the way into my ear and down my throat. The muscles cramp up and the pain is constant. Strangely, I am not sensitive to cold, hot, sweet or tapping. Xrays (two sets over 4 months) have shown nothing.

Does anyone have any ideas why my face would hurt so much yet still not be affected by cold or anything else? Only ice seems to help relieve it at all. That, and a constant stream of never ending ibuprofen.

When I mention this to my dentist and periodontist, they both look at me glassy eyed and say nothing is wrong. What are some of the best ideas for home care of sensitive teeth? ANY information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Gellia

Stribe · 05-26-2009, 04:41 PM

Your teeth are sensitive, but not to cold/hot, sweets or pressure? What are you sensitive to then? What causes the pain?
How long ago was the cleaning?

Gellia · 05-26-2009, 06:22 PM

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

They have bothered me for the past six months or so. It always seemed to be centered on the lower left first molar and forward. My wisdom tooth and second molar are gone. The second molar from a failed root canal.

It started right after I had a partial placed for the upper front four teeth (implants). The RS&P had been about six months before that. That procedure was successful for early periodontal disease and I go every 3 months for a professional cleaning.

We've checked for a cracked tooth...nope. No pain to biting down pressure, cold, heat, sweets.....nothing except a serious ache that goes from a spot on the gums under my lower canine (I think that's what it is) to the angle of my jaw, up to my ear and sometimes even hurts the base of my tongue when I swallow and can go down my throat.

I really felt it was a mandibular nerve problem from the partial hitting the teeth below and my night clenching, but my dentists see nothing wrong.

My one dentist tried to correct the bite some, but because I am only using the partial while my implants heal, he didn't want to change too much.
The pain persisted. I went back to my periodontist that had done the root scaling and planing. Nope...he saw nothing, no swelling. Nothing.

All the time my face just aches. Sometimes it is much worse than other times. Much like surgical pain. I can feel what are like trigger points inside my mouth that if I rub that area, it can help for a short while. At times tapping on my face near my ear seems to help.

I feel that it's the nerve, but I can't figure out what it is from (obviously, neither can my dentists) and I'm just hoping that when I'm finished and the partial has been replaced with my crowns, the teeth may settle down.

I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas as to what could possibly be wrong when there's "nothing wrong" and if so, how I can correct it.

Ice and ibuprofen help but I don't want to take too much ibuprofen and cause other problems there.

Thanks for listening to my vent. I really appreciate it.

Gellia

Stribe · 05-26-2009, 11:27 PM

You might want to check with a neurologist or orofacial pain specialist. Sounds like an atypical nerve problem, not really a tooth problem.

Gellia · 05-27-2009, 05:17 AM

Hi again,
I thought it might be a nerve thing, too. Unfortunately, that puts me in a "stuck" position. I can't have any of the tests for a nerve problem due to other health issues. Without the tests, they can't really treat it and the meds themselves could create an issue with other meds I have to take.

I do notice the pain is worse in the morning so maybe my night clenching will ease up once the partial is gone. That's what they keep telling me, but it's with that glassy eyed "oh, no....a "nerve" problem" look.

In the meantime, I went and got some toothpaste for sensitive teeth and will hope for the best. Maybe it's my imagination (or wishful thinking) but I think it has easied some since I started the toothpaste.

Can nerve pain go away spontaneously? Or, once it's there, it's there.
Would a nerve block work?

Thanks for your reply. It's appreciated.
Gellia