This is my fault, just cosmic timing biting me in the ass.

I had a tooth the regular dentist told me was going to need a cap, but he suggested getting a root canal from the Endodontic specialist due to the way the existing fillings were.

I of course, put it off so that my wife could get her dental work finished using the FSA last year. Early into this year I got busy and forgot about it.

Now that almost all dental offices are closed or marginally staffed from the COVID-19 issue, I couldn't get anyone to answer the phone yesterday and last night was some of the worst pain I've ever felt in my life.

I'm trying to manage it with a cold compress, Tylenol, Motrin, and a bit of Jim Beam mixed in... but I know this is gonna suck until I can get a call back on Monday.

So head my lesson... If the dentist recommends a root canal before it becomes an issue, GET IT! You may just be SOL when the time comes that you need it!

Any chance you can get your PCP to write a scrip for an antibiotic. You insurer may have a telmed set up with zero deductible because of the C19 outbreak. We are doing a lot of telebridge stuff in EMS right now because you don't want to go to the ER unless you are surprise....emergent. It won't fix it but if you have abscess (likely if root canal was recommended) that will help until you can get in. Oil of clove may help for the pain or Oragel if you can't find the former.

Walmart sells the clove oil under the name Red Cross toothache. I used it for a tooth ache while waiting on a crown. It works great. Be sure to follow directions. The stuff burns like hell on the tongue...

Thanks Brad. My wife actually called into the walk in clinic attached to our PCP and I'm in the waiting room now.

I was in so much pain, I didn't even think this route... I'm glad my wife was though.

It's funny, I tried the orajel, and that made it so much worse. It numbed everything around the tooth except for the pressure/pain itself making me even more aware of the pain.

Thanks for replying with that... if my wife hadn't called, I would have with your recommendation.

The guidance from the ADA and most (all?) Boards of Dentistry is that we are to continue treating emergency patients to avoid having them show up at emergency rooms. That includes having a means for patients to contact the office. Even though my patients (orthodontics) are not likely to have an emergency requiring immediate treatment, I still have my staff answering calls/returning messages during the week and weekend callers can forward to my cell phone. As Brad suggested, an antibiotic may be indicated to get you headed in the right direction until the RCT can be initiated.

Funny you should mention. Just as the SIP was called, one of my cracked molars abscessed. Hurt like you-know-what. My dentist wanted to maintain the isolation order, but did leave a course of antibiotics at his office that I picked up.

Infection gone, and the tooth only hurts occasionally. I should be able to hold out till May, when I'll probably have it yanked completely.

I hate bad timing.

Wow, sorry to hear this. I would see if they can get you some pain killer in addition to the antibiotic.

I had a similar situation a few years ago. I saw the Endodontic doc but he could not identify the specific tooth.

He told me that sooner or later the pain would make it obvious and gave me some oxy. He said once that tooth decides its time for the root canal, you'll need the oxy for the pain until you can get in to see me.

Boy was he right!

They gave me penicillin for the infection, but couldn't prescribe any narcotic (claimed it was a limit if the walk in clinic, and PCP can't prescribe it over the phone).

I asked if I could continue the Burbon with the penicillin and over the counter meds, she said she can't recommend it... but it won't cause any problems as long as I'm not over doing it.

Hopefully the penicillin acts fast and tonight will be the worst of it.

Go through Walgreens drive thru and get a bottle of benzocaine. It’ll numb things pretty well as long as you keep applying it whenever it starts wearing off.

You can open an advil gel capsule and rub it on the gum an tooth for minor relief.

I've been there, hope the antibiotic works. It's been a big help for me in some of my too many bad tooth experiences. You're kind of in the system now and maybe that'll open some doors to treatment quicker. FWIW when I had really bad tooth pain and nothing was helping, the only thing that kept me going was knowing each minute that passes is one minute closer to resolution. Looking for good news very soon.

Went through this a few weeks back. Started taking ibuprofen. Couple days go by with no improvement. Got antibiotics (stopped taking ibuprofen) and by the time I was to take the third pill (every 8 hrs) it was manageable. Pain was almost totally gone.

I had this exact same thing happen over 10 years ago on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and had to nurse it until Monday or Tuesday. It is the worst pain that I can ever remember feeling. Try Tylenol, also some of those tooth numbing agents they sell at CVS do work. Sorry to hear you're going through this.

Advil is pretty effective for tooth pain in my experience.

I had the same issue. It started on a Sunday and by Sunday night, the whole side of my head hurt so bad, i could not eat, sleep or even watch tv.
My dentist was closed as well. I called about 10 times and finally got an answer. After telling then the peoblem, the phone went dead. called back, no answer. I went to the ER. Doctor told me that it was a sinus infection. Gave me an RX for antibiotic and pain med as well as a gel you put on to deaden it, which works great.
That was 2.5 wks ago. My sinuses are still pretty bad. But when I got out of the ER, I went by my Dentist office an went in The dentist actually saw me and did xrays, yep sinus no tooth problem. I am still fighting the sinus problem.
Hope you get yours taken care of. NO root canal for me, I would have it cut out and get an implant done. My roots are too long to pull.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
The guidance from the ADA and most (all?) Boards of Dentistry is that we are to continue treating emergency patients to avoid having them show up at emergency rooms. That includes having a means for patients to contact the office. Even though my patients (orthodontics) are not likely to have an emergency requiring immediate treatment, I still have my staff answering calls/returning messages during the week and weekend callers can forward to my cell phone. As Brad suggested, an antibiotic may be indicated to get you headed in the right direction until the RCT can be initiated.

I got a text from my DDS with a cell number to use for emergency dental problems.

just chipped a molar with a filling in it, , now it's got very sharp edges.
no appointments till may 15th.

or
unless it gets swollen , it bleeds or excessive pain starts