I really need advice. I got hit in the mouth with an object, now it looks like I might need a root canal. I am beyond petriefied to do this. I have bilateral TN which is moroverwhelming. Please help, I nned some advice. Has anyone faced this before?
I have TN but needed a apicoectomy on a tooth right where my main pain is at. There was an infection in the tooth so it had to be done. I took a vicodin and an extra nortriptyline ( for TN) before I went and also used nitrous. It didn't cause a flare up but it did "wake" it up so that I had more breakthrough pain. This was right before monsoon season and I ended up having to increase my TN meds because of the change in air pressure all summer. The problem with needing a root canal is that if you have an infection it can travel to your heart and even your brain. It needs to be done. I've had other root canals in adjoining teeth and it did not cause my TN to flare. An apicoectomy is much more complicated as they cut through the gum and take out the root, so it was more invasive and I was worried that I'd go into terrible pain. But I was also having fevers, tooth pain, chills - basically the infection was going through my body.
After the root canal, you'll also have to get a crown, which is a lot of drilling. Is it a back tooth? I've already decided if I need another root canal in a back tooth, I'm going to get it pulled. I don't think I want to chance the drilling. (which is another worry in itself). But a tooth that can be seen, I would go through the whole root canal, crown thing because I really don't want to have to deal with a partial pushing on the gum area. For a back tooth I wouldn't even get a partial, just have a gap.
This is something we are ALL worried about. All I can say is try and get ahead of any pain. It will probably go perfectly and you won't have any problem.
I have not had to make decision but I am always worried about that possibility. My thoughts are with you.
I have had to get a root canal when my TN was acting up. I don't know if this is sound advice or not, but I am going to throw it out there. My doctor had me take pain killers just before I went to the dentist so that the nerves would already be dampened when I got the dental work done. I don't know if my doctor was crazy or not, but I didn't have a terrible TN reaction. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?? I don't want to lead you astray.
I always take pain killers before going to the dentist, even to get a cleaning.
Leeters said:
I have had to get a root canal when my TN was acting up. I don't know if this is sound advice or not, but I am going to throw it out there. My doctor had me take pain killers just before I went to the dentist so that the nerves would already be dampened when I got the dental work done. I don't know if my doctor was crazy or not, but I didn't have a terrible TN reaction. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?? I don't want to lead you astray.
I’ve just had root canal work done this week.
My TN is bilateral and although my face is a little more painful than it usually is, for me it has been a manageable process.
I have several trigger points in my mouth and my dentist was very careful not to touch them. I have seen this dentist for many years, so I do feel confident with him and his staff.
Unfortunately it is one of those things that can change day to day, its hard to guess what is going to happen. My dentist is also prepared to stop or not do the work if I am in too much pain on the day of my appointment. I don’t have the gas but maybe that would help???
Good luck
Trish
Friend, message or find Cleo here
Maybe put Cleo in search box…
Is the guru here of root canals. Cleo Says what stuff they use, for canals can make life hell…so research a bit n grill the endodontist
and printout picture where your pain paths are
By going to google images… TN. OR ATN
thank you for the response. Not sure what you mean by CLEO. Could you tell me more, thanks
An endododist is the way to go. All they do is root canals. I would never go to a regular dentist for a root canal and I have had at least one a year for the last 15 years.
Cleo said:
How did you end up with bilateral from the dentist in the first place?
I had two upper wisdom teeth removed 9/11/2012. They were not impacted, dentist suggested for years to get them out before I got older, which I finally did. I developed a dry socket which he packed 8 days later, and that is when the nightmare began.
Yes an oral surgeon did extract them. There was no reason for them to have come out, other then the fact the dentist kept telling me they would cause me problems later in life. I resisted his suggestion for 4 years.
I had mine out because they never broke through the skin and were causing problems. They told me that I could have them out now or beg to have them out later. I got them pulled. But much later I met a young man in the dentists office and he was in such agony, his face swollen. He was told almost the same thing but he chose not to have them out at the time and he regretted it, sitting there with his mouth full of infection. He couldn't talk and you could tell the pain killers weren't working.
I know there are always risks but even non impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems, one being that they push on the other teeth, causing pain, difficulty in brushing and crooked teeth. Personally, my mouth was to small and couldn't accommadate the extra teeth. I would get infections in the skin on the teeth because food would get trapped back there. I think you made the right decision at the time. I just don't think that there is enough info about dental procedures and TN. It would be great if they did some kind of study but there's no money in it. Dentists might change their advice if it could be proven that some kinds of dental procedures can damage the nerve. It also may not have been the dry socket that was the problem but when they injected the novacaine or whatever they are using these days. They may have hit a nerve then which triggered the other nerves to go crazy.
In my case I believe that TN caused me to have so many dental procedures that I didn't need. It was my dentist who referred me to a neurologist. But who knows, it could have been that a procedure that caused the TN.
I had MVD surgery on the 12th and was still having terrible pain. I woke up a week after surgery and a terrible pain shot through my tooth. I ended up needing a root canal. I had it done Tuesday. It ended up being very infected. I'm still recovering but glad I had it done. Four years ago I had to have my tooth pulled out and it was excruciating pain with the TN. Its much better to have a root canal than an extraction. The longer you wait the worst it gets. Plus you will start to have the tooth pain on top of the TN. I would go get the root canal as soon as possible. It is worthy it!!!!
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Definitely go to a specialist! It’s worth the money.