Help - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

sara43c · 08-18-2008, 08:26 PM

I'm having excrutiating pain in my teeth on my left side top and bottom. It feels like two abscessed teeth, one on the top and one on the bottom. The top one has a large piece broken off and will need a crown and the bottom one has a crown about one year old. I've been to the dentist 3 times in the last 2 weeks and the x-rays aren't showing anything. The dentist is saying TMD but gave me an antibiotic clindamycin for 10 days just in case and told me to take motrin. I want them to do root canals on these two teeth but they are saying it is referred pain. My jaw does click but never locks open or closed and has never hurt. I am in agony and don't know how I can tolerate this. Even Advil or Motrin don't seem to help. I have periods where the pain is almost gone then really really bad spells where I can hardly stand it.

Any advice?

taape · 08-18-2008, 08:48 PM

Sorry to hear that your having so much pain. My jaw clicks sometimes also and it doesn't cause pain but my abscessed tooth last month just about killed me in pain. It had a crown on it so a crowned tooth can get abscessed and get a root canal. The xrays can't see through crowns so the dentist will have to base his opinion on symptoms your having. i think the xrays can see the roots/root canals thoughl. The dentist made me take antibiotics before doing the root canal so maybe you can call and schedule yourself for an app't after you've been on the antibiotics for 7-8 days. I would.

sara43c · 08-19-2008, 01:34 AM

How long did it take for the antibiotic to work on your abscess before you felt better?

taape · 08-19-2008, 04:05 AM

Unfortunately, I took the antibiotics for three days and then just got sicker, more tooth and mouth pain, got dizzy, the chills. I think the abscess was so severe that antibiotics at least taken by mouth weren't going to cut the infection. I made it through one more day laying in bed I was so sick.

Then the following day they did the root canal even though the dentist/specialist wanted me to take antibiotics longer before doing the root canal but I couldn't wait. I felt better within 24 hours, still continued the antibiotics for another 10 days.

If I had this again so severe I would get my regular doctor to give me injections of antibiotic medication so it worked quicker.

I'd go get a second opinion about whether you have an abscessed tooth or referred pain. Good luck with this, I know it's miserable to be in pain.

sara43c · 08-19-2008, 05:44 PM

Thanks for the info. The dentist that I've been seeing was covering for my regular dentist who was away on holidays and she said the cause of the pain was TMJ. Today I went to see my regular dentist who is back from holidays and he says it is an abscessed tooth that needs a root canal. I am so happy I went to see him today! Unfortunately I have to wait about 3 1/2 weeks for the root canal but they said the antibiotic should reduce the pain in the next day or so. Finally someone can help me! I do feel quite crappy from the antibiotic but I think I already feel a bit of relief from the pain. Advil is starting to help a bit. Second opinions are really necessary sometimes.