I've had a toothache for the last few days, and of course didn't call my dentist until now, and he's out of town until next Monday. He left a number for extreme emergencies. My problem is with a lower molar. It's not really "pain," but that really sensitive feeling, like there's something going on inside. It's become constant, and worsens when I bite down to the point I can't really chew on one side.

So, does this count as an emergency that can't wait a week? Or is there something I can do in the meantime? I tried Advil and it didn't seem to do anything.

Call the emergency contact and see if they can get you started on antibiotics until he returns.

Standard disclaimer about Internet diagnosis.

Does the tooth have a large filling? Crown? Visible cracks?

Is it sensitive to temperature or just biting pressure? Does it actually feel "high" in your bite?

clove oil

Put some clove oil (they have it at the grocers) on the tooth with a Q-tip. It is a natural anesthetic.

I would call the other dentist. If there is an infection/abscess it's not going to get better on its own just worse. I would at least get it looked at. I wouldn't take the chance of it getting worse at 8 pm and getting stuck till the next day and tomorrow is the 4th.

FWIW I'm not a dentist but had a tooth abscess once. It went from a dull pain to some of the worst pain I've had. Max dose of Advil did nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
Standard disclaimer about Internet diagnosis.

Does the tooth have a large filling? Crown? Visible cracks?

Is it sensitive to temperature or just biting pressure? Does it actually feel "high" in your bite?

No visible filling or cracks. I hadn't thought about it, but I think it does have a crown because I broke one that had to be crowned and this is the only one back there without a filling.

It doesn't seem to be high, but the feeling is what you get when you bite down on something extra hard, except I feel it even when I am not biting down.

Was actually in for a cleaning about three weeks ago, but they didn't take x-rays.

"Call the man"

WAG, based on experience: Nerve's dying. If I'm right: If the tooth is still solidly anchored in the gum and bone it might be saved via a root canal. If my guess is right you might want to be on antibiotics sooner, rather than later.

Usually there's a reason nerves die. Cracked/fractured tooth, leaking, fairly deep filling, etc.

There's also this opinion, vis-a-vis root canals: Why You Should Avoid Root Canals Like the Plague

IMO, not as a dentist, but as one who has spent many, many hours in the chair. Call the emergency dentist. If something is wrong, and it seems it is, sooner is better than later.

I'd call the EM dentist. They may want you to come in for a periapical x-ray. While it's possible that it is sensitive due to occlusal trauma (bit something hard), it very well may be becoming necrotic. In that case, it won't get better on its own. Antibiotics will buy you some time.

If the root is intact, RCT might be a good option. If there is a crack down the root, extraction and an implant would be indicated.

BTW: I think the linked article from Mercola is about as good as the rest of his theories. That is: Worthless. He seems to be a total goofball.

Thanks all. I've paged the emergency number.

Or call the emergency number.

Good luck, best wishes to you. Toothache pain is awful when it really kicks in.

quote:

Originally posted by Dallas239:
Thanks all. I've paged the emergency number.

Good plan, IMO. Better to address it today than wait until it possibly gets worse, way worse, tomorrow.

quote:

Originally posted by cgode:
clove oil

Yep! It does wonders

I once had an issue with a tooth and started taking some over the counter pills. They didn't work, so I stepped up to some left over prescription pills. They didn't work, so I went to a stronger left over prescription pill.

By time the endodontist called, I knew I wasn't OK to drive. Had to get somebody to pick me up, drive me there, and make sure I didn't walk into any walls on the way in.

The doctor said that mouth pain is tough to control with pills, which is why my self medicating wasn't working. Fixing the problem is the best way to fix the pain. If it's being caused by an infection, the antibiotics will do that for you.

Dentist called me and was going to have me take pain meds and antibiotics, but realized the endodontist would be open today so I'm going in. It is a crown, so I might be looking at a root canal. Just how I wanted to spend my day off of work.

sorry to hear that. I guess they didn't catch this on your yearly check up?

Clove oil does wonders. We keep a bottle in the house just for this issue.