chances are probably didn’t need the root canal work in the first place, I had my tooth out unecessarily and have read elsewhere of others who had dental treatment for nothing and routine dental checks trigger further pain episodes but then this is the real chicken and egg nature of this horrible thing that nothing and no one seem the same as others have found relief from dental work - so frustrating but hope your situation is eased soon
Where are you?
Karen Brown said:
Well, I went to the Dentist and had my tooth cleaning but now I have to go back on Monday because I have a broken filling on the top right. It’s next to the tooth that triggered my TN pain a year and a half ago, after 4 pain free years. No problem with the cleaning today. I did take 4 Ibuprofen 30 minutes before my appointment. Monday was as early as I could get in and I want to get it over with. I’m hopeful that I can handle it and my Lamotrigine will keep the pain at bay.
One funny thing (well, not so funny really) was that when I reminded the dentist of my TN and told him my episodes have been frequent and that’s what has prevented me from having dental work done, he looked surprised and asked me when “they” were going to take the nerve out … as if it were that easy. If only.
On Friday, my divorce is final. On Saturday my husband is leaving the state and I will be here alone to take care of my two boys. I have no family here, no support system and I know in my heart we’ll be OK, but it’s scary nonetheless. Monday’s dental appointment should be the least of my worries.
According to my Dentist - who specializes in patients with TN - the TN nerve can run right above the upper gum line… that is what they numb to do work on the upper teeth… however it is an offshoot of the actual 2nd Div of the TN. Likely it has been irritated and will resolve. True TN is pain deriving from the nerve root in your brainstem were it exits.
hope that helps.
I would tell your dentist you had never irritation and see if he can give you some pain meds and/or steroids to bring down the irritation on the nerve.
Why did I let the dentist pull out a perfectly good tooth? Someone kick me in the behind!!
yes.
my TN start after root canal.
it is very important to avoid unnecessary dental job in this case.
more information - http://facial-neuralgia.org/conditions/ao.htm
I felt the same way about dental work and opted to go without the novocaine - fortunately it wasn’t a large/deep cavity!!!
Debi said:
I have TN pains on lower left side. X-rays have shown a small cavity on the upper right side and I am afraid to have it fixed. I don't want the novacaine to start causing pains on the right side. Any comments on this??
Hello Robyn,
I have been reading your messages and really feel for your situation. Mine too began with a root canal that was not successful. I had it done by a new dentist that was cheaper. I knew I should have gone to my Endodontist but wanted to save money. I ended up going to the Specialist anyway who performed another root canal on the same tooth (found another canal). The pain remained. Then a surgery, then multiple extractions (4). I am 36 years old and the loss is quite devastating. I do believe the dental work caused this. I am not able to work due to this and am expecting a child. I worry so much about how I can take care of a child if I cannot work. Your strength being a single mom and still teaching is very inspiring. You will be in my prayers!
Robyn,
My family and I are almost convinced it was routine dental work that caused my TN. I had a cavity filled in my freshman year of college in 2006 and ever since then it's been the battle of pain. It's hard for us to not blame the dental work since that was the starting point. My neurologist said that dental work can be a trigger or possibly make apparent a latent TN situation. I had my wisdom teeth pulled out about year later (thinking that might be the problem) and even though I was under anesthesia I woke up in the middle of the procedure and started screaming my head off. Ironically that was what lead to the definite diagnosis of TN. But anyway, just wanted you to know that I firmly believe that dental work can cause it.
I had a wisdom tooth removed 7 years ago and notice something afterwards and made a comment to my dentist at the time., I told him I had TN he said "NO'..... I was able to self diagnose because my father experienced TN and the research on the net. I used to believe the dental work caused my TN , but no longer do I believe dental work is or was a cause. We have to remember that we are experiencing pain because of the pressure on the nerve not because of the touch sensation on our faces. If the cyst in the back of my brain was not there I would NEVER experience TN.
Good luck to all!
I’ve read that dental work does not cause the condition, but I had a root canal shortly before onset too. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Hi,
Brand new to this discussion forum. I too had a tooth re-filled a few months before I was diagnosed with TN, however soon after the filling I could not chew food or gum on that tooth and it was very sensitive. This is where my pain started and where it is worse when I have a flare up. The doctor says no, that does not cause it and it could be that is true, but if it didn't cause it, I think it set it off. Too many TN sufferers with the same problems with dental work. Just thought I'd add my story...
Donna
I think I had root canal around the time my TN started, but can't be sure because the dentist I was with then has now retired and I'm with another practise. Never really thought of dental work as a cause, but now, along with others, I have to wonder. I really wish I had kept a diary in the early days after diagnosis.....but thenI thought it was only going to last a couple of weeks.
http://killienutz.blogspot.com/
I have two books on TMJ. Both state quite clearly that it can be caused by dental surgery.
I was told by my oral surgeon 23 years ago that one of the risks of having my wisdom teeth removed is TN.
Thank God I did not get TN then, but 2 years ago I had a root canal at an endodontist (after a failed root canal at a general dentist) and then suffered EXCRUCIATING pain. After many months I was diagnosed with TN by a neurologist.
Please tell me the titles of the books on TN. I would love to read them. Thank you.
Hello Eva, the books are;-"Taking control of TMJ" by Robert O Uppgaard, DDS and "Pain Erasure the Bonnie Prudden Way" by Bonnie Prudden. The second one is about trigger point muscle therapy which covers the whole body but has a section on facial pain and TMJ.
I've been using the first book for 6 months and the second one for about 3. I've had my ups and downs using them but on balance I'm much improved. As things stand at the moment I've not had the nerve fire for weeks and I can sit again. That may sound strange but for months I would have an attack after sitting for a couple of minutes, but I sorted this by clearing the trigger points in my neck. However, I'm having problems now with the temporalis muscle on the side of the head which controls the jaw and which keeps going into spasm, but I'm hoping to get help next week when I see my physiotherapist. Good luck
Eva Tsiouras said:
I was told by my oral surgeon 23 years ago that one of the risks of having my wisdom teeth removed is TN.
Thank God I did not get TN then, but 2 years ago I had a root canal at an endodontist (after a failed root canal at a general dentist) and then suffered EXCRUCIATING pain. After many months I was diagnosed with TN by a neurologist.
Please tell me the titles of the books on TN. I would love to read them. Thank you.
Yes thanks for this information. I had a root canal before I self-diagonsed TNA and had it confirmed by my doctor. But I have not had the crown work done and am terrified of having the dentist touch my mouth at this point and also worried the temporary crown will break and I’ll be excruciating pain from that unexpectedly. I guess I’ll bite the bullet and get the dental work completed.
robyn holder said:
Thank you so much for adding the tip sheet information!
Kerry said:TNA Tips for Keeping Dental work as painless as possible: ° Go to the dentist when you're not hurting. Make sure your dentist knows you have TN so he or she will be flexible to schedule your appointments (maybe even on short notice) during periods when your pain goes into remission. This will also help the dental staff to understand in case you have to cancel in the event that your pain flares up right before an appointment.
° Be well medicated. If you don’t have remissions or must have dental work done during an active pain cycle, consult your doctor so you’re on an optimal dose of medicine. To prevent a breakthrough, your dentist may want to increase the dose of any TN medications you are taking for a day or so before and after the procedure. Also try to schedule your appointment during the time of day when you’re least likely to get pain or when your medication is at peak effectiveness (usually about one hour after taking a dose). Several hours before the procedure, take a pain-killing medication such as codeine. Take it again after the procedure. The goal is to have at least five hours after the procedure during which you’re pain free.
° Topical anesthetics. Most dental patients need numbing compounds mainly for tooth repairs, crown work, extractions and the like. However, even teeth-cleaning and exams may bring on pain for facial pain patients. Topical sprays or gels can be used to temporarily numb the gums.
° Touch the sensitive area last. If there’s a trigger zone that usually sets off the pain, ask the dentist or hygienist to examine and clean everything else first.
° Switch local anesthetics. If you need treatment, discuss with your dentist the type of anesthetic to be used. Ask your dentist to use Mepivacaine 3% or Carbocaine 3%, neither of which contains preservatives or a vasoconstrictor. You may want to ask in advance, because the average dentist doesn’t keep this particular drug in stock.
° Epinephrine is a vasoconstrictor; it’s sometimes added to local anesthetics to prolong their numbing effect. Epinephrine can trigger nerve pain, especially in cases of trauma-induced TN. In these cases, ask your dentist not to inject a vasoconstrictor with local anesthetics in the area of nerve damage.
° Consider the injection point. Ask the dentist if possible to inject the local anesthetic at a site as far as possible from known, active TN trigger points.
° A knockout. If all else fails and you absolutely need dental work, discuss the possibility of a general anesthetic (either IV or inhaled) to put you to sleep while the work is being done. This type of anesthesia can reduce emotional trauma.
i just saw this and i know it’s been some time, but the tn isn’t a result of dental work. i thought the same thing, but the tn was probably what brought you to the dentist for the root canal. hopefully, since this is from a long time ago you and your doctors have figured it out! initially, i thought the same thing, made perfect sense, but after research, there’s just no way it could be caused from dental work…janet
I believe my TN started with dental work many years ago. I had several procedures done in the late 90s, only to have an ‘outbreak’ if you will. My dentist was at a loss, as were several ER docs. The problem went away, or so we thought. In 2007, I had about $7000 worth of work done, after I suddenly had dental insurance again and had a lot of things repaired that I hadn’t had the money to have done before. In June 2008 I was overwhelmed with pain; my PCP and ER doctors eventually speculated it was TN and it was confirmed by a neurologist. Dental trauma, in some things I read as I continue to read anything I can get my hands on about TN, is indicated as one cause. MS and a brain tumor have been ruled out as a cause for me.
I can see how one would blame the dental work my husband still thinks it's this but it isn't. Some of the pain you get mimicks dental problems and trust me you are not the only one out of pocket from having more and more dental work done. I wish this was better known to dentist than they could help us diagnose TN instead of making a killing off of us.
Hi Robyn, I've just completed some extensive and painful treatment with a good outcome.
I had root canal treatment on the same tooth twice, both when the season was changing into the Winter.
I thought the same tooth was giving was giving me trouble.
After investigation it was found that the area of the tooth that had root canal work done on it was a trigger point and the tooth itself had no nerve.
My TN was diagnosed initially as ocular and the tooth, eye and scalp are on the same nerve line.