Tooth 'sensitivity' - how real is it?

General General TN & GPN (Old Site)
1

Hi, I'm new to the forum, and relatively new to TN. I've only had it for a couple of months.

It started the usual way, via my teeth, which I have since learned is very common. I had sensitive teeth on my lower right jaw, but I didn't worry about it (although it had got worse recently) until I started getting severe 'electric shocks'. These things were so bad, and struck so randomly, that I was reduced to only managing to drink and eat blood temperature food, which eventually had to be pureed and even then I could only face two meals a day. I went to my dentist, she X-rayed the tooth, but she could see nothing wrong, so she made a best guess that it was a big old filled tooth and we decided to open it up. She announced that it looked fine but it was very close to the filling so she reckoned I had pulpitis. She put a dressing into it and we decided we'd root canal it. I went off and felt hugely relieved, until the Novocaine wore off and bang! the shocks were back.

This was so unusual, and not my normal experience of teeth that have had sedative dressings, that I started to feel uncomfortable with the diagnosis. How could a tooth that had shown no decay on an X-ray be this painful, especially with a sedative dressing in? I went on the internet and found TN. I immediately put an appointment on with my doctors and he came to the same conclusion, without prompting from me.

My problem is this: I am now on Tegretol and working to get the dosage right. I have had marked improvements in symptoms (no more shocks) but I now have a tooth that has been opened up and only has a temporary filling in it. It is VERY sensitive, but I don't know how much to trust this sensation. My doctor was pressuring me to have it root canalled, but he knows NOTHING about teeth, by his own admission. He didn't even know what a root canal was; I had to tell him. I also had to tell him that an amazing amount of people seem to have TN start up (or get worse) after dentistry, and I was frightened of making the situation worse. He seems to have come round to the fact that I have a point but it doesn't help me to feel secure in making a decision. All my problems are in my teeth, not in my face, but the Tegretol is slowly eroding them, so, allegedly, that proves it IS TN, not a tooth problem.

My question is this: How 'fake' are these sensitivity feelings? Personally, going purely on my gut, I think they're completely fake. I think they are part of my TN, but they feel so authentic. I am a dental phobic (I know, the fun just keeps coming) so dentistry is a real ordeal for me, but honestly, that's not why I feel it's a bad idea to continue with this root canal. I want to try pulp capping the tooth, now that we've opened the damn thing up. Does anybody have any advice to offer from experience? Specifically:

1. Is this sensitivity part of my disease?

2. Will pulp capping make things worse? It's the least invasive thing I can think to do. The tooth has been breached now and I have to repair it somehow.

Any advice, anecdotal or otherwise, would be very welcome. My doctor, who is a nice man and at least knows the disease, is frankly less than useless here, and my dentist, also nice, is not much better. So I've come to ask the experts! Anyone....?

P.S. Should just say I am still unable to eat on the right hand side of mouth, at all, and it is super sensitive to temperature (and sweet). Including any change from outdoors to indoors, and vice versa. This is proving very hard to fix, and is one of the things that is making me worry that there's a tooth problem underlying this. I sway from one to the other all the time: 'It's my teeth', 'No, it's the TN.' It's making the anxiety much worse, and therefore making the TN worse. Help!

2

I am new to this TN thing. Mine is caused from an accident - I bit into a foreign object in a grilled chicken wrap at a local chain restaurant. #8 Needed a rc- I had beautiful, healthy teeth. 4 top and 2 bottom all front were injured. They were hot/cold sensitive, loose, and were pushed back. Never had a rc before - wished I'd just told them to pull it. Just wanted to save my beautiful, healthy teeth. The endo after removing my root and showing it to me continued to drill when all of a sudden, I felt needle-like pricks- like it was going to my brain. Well, Mr. Endo tells me he went a little too far but it would be okay. The antiseptic he rinsed my mouth with burned. I left in more pain than what I was originally. Out of the 6 teeth that were initially injured I lost 5 and now have TN. I can't get implants now, I can't wear a particle, I've lost part of my maxillary so I need a bone graft - which isn't going to happen either - and I still have pain. Wished I'd pulled that tooth, #8 that is, and perhaps I wouldn't be in the shape I'm in now. I've had to withdraw from school - should be doing my intern now-, paid out over 10,000.00 in medical expenses, my health is declining daily, the facial zaps at times makes me feel like I'm fixing to die - seriously -, and I have five front teeth missing. I'd pull that sucker. It's dead anyways. This is just my opinion.

3

So sorry to hear of your disaster/s, Southerngal, that's a horrible story. But my tooth isn't damaged, let alone dead. Certainly when it was opened up It was still alive and well (although things may have changed since then!). I don't want to kill it unnecessarily, and as your story proves, doing root canals often does more damage than good with TN. But thanks for sharing!

4

I have chronic tooth sensitivity with my TN. I get them x-rayed because they hurt and nothing’s wrong. I only do this for my peace of mind. My neurosurgeon and neurologist state that this is part of the disease, and I need to stop doing it. I’m just afraid that I will have a situation that will cause the loss of a tooth. Every single day I deal with stinging, numbness and aching in random teeth. Good luck and I hope all goes well with you.

5

Hi Lou, thanks for replying. It's great to hear someone has the same problem - although not great for you! Can I ask what your sensitivity is like? Mine can't stand anything hot or cold (or sweet) anywhere near it, and it really aches if even the slightest contact is made. I haven't had an iced drink or a cup of hot tea since this started!

Also, do you find that cold air (outside or in) will trigger the sensitivity pains just the same as eating does?

It's really, really hard to convince myself that this is TN and not to rush off to the dentist for a root canal. Also I find I blame myself for being a scaredy-cat all the time, trying to avoid surgery, but I really genuinely believe this sensitivity is suspect. Worst of all is the fear that I'm making both my life and the TN worse and more painful than it needs to be because I don't get the root canal done.

Lou said:

I have chronic tooth sensitivity with my TN. I get them x-rayed because they hurt and nothing's wrong. I only do this for my peace of mind. My neurosurgeon and neurologist state that this is part of the disease, and I need to stop doing it. I'm just afraid that I will have a situation that will cause the loss of a tooth. Every single day I deal with stinging, numbness and aching in random teeth. Good luck and I hope all goes well with you.
6

I believe that I have a trigger point in my gum. I don’t think it’s in the actual tooth. It’s also why everything bothers it. Even cool air. As time goes on I understand more and more how the mechanics of this disease work in my head and teeth. I also have a tooth in the front that I cannot even touch when I am in a relapse. It always recovers when I do. So strange.

7

Hello electric teeth. I too have been diagnosed with TN. It all began with excruciating electric shocks in one tooth while flying. My dentist referred me to an endodontist thinking that I needed a root canal, thinking that it could be the tooth. He wasn’t convinced but I thought it had to be, and had it done. If only it had been that easy. My endodontist was very conscientious and referred me to a neurologist, then came the diagnosis. Progressively I have been having type II pain in that side of my jaw, and am sensitive to hot and cold and pressure (chewing) on that side of my mouth. My neuro has me on Tegretol for the shocks as needed and Nortriptline.
My opinion is to go ahead and finish the root canal.
All the best to you as you journey this path.
Jackie W

8

My Tn started with tooth pain. I had a root canal and new fillings put in. Nothing helped. My dentist told me to go to a neurologist and that is how I found out I had TN.. I am still very tooth sensitive. Even the root canal tooth. It is not the tooth, it is the nerve.

9

Mannny here have lost extra teeth for no reason

Get a message to cleo here… Cleo is teeth guru

10

When I was diagnosed with tn I still couldn’t believe it wasn’t my teeth. I cannot count the number of times I had the same teeth checked plus two root canals. I had my mvd in March and the tooth pain is gone. It was never my teeth…

11

Hi Jackie, thanks for your reply. Can I ask though why you feel I should have the root canal done when your own root canal proved to be completely ineffective? It seems strange that you are recommending something that you know yourself does not work!

Jackie W. said:

Hello electric teeth. I too have been diagnosed with TN. It all began with excruciating electric shocks in one tooth while flying. My dentist referred me to an endodontist thinking that I needed a root canal, thinking that it could be the tooth. He wasn't convinced but I thought it had to be, and had it done. If only it had been that easy. My endodontist was very conscientious and referred me to a neurologist, then came the diagnosis. Progressively I have been having type II pain in that side of my jaw, and am sensitive to hot and cold and pressure (chewing) on that side of my mouth. My neuro has me on Tegretol for the shocks as needed and Nortriptline.
My opinion is to go ahead and finish the root canal.
All the best to you as you journey this path.
Jackie W
12

Hi Kc, thanks for recommending Cleo. Is there some way I can get in touch with her? I don't know the ins and outs yet so I don't know how to approach anyone.

Kc Dancer Kc said:

Mannny here have lost extra teeth for no reason

Get a message to cleo here.... Cleo is teeth guru
13

Hi Debora, can I ask you, does your tooth sensitivity feel like 'ordinary' sensitivity, i.e. like something you would use sensitive toothpaste for? Or is it different somehow? This is the thing that most concerns me. My tooth sensitivity feels so ordinary (except it's acute) that it's very hard to convince myself that it isn't dental. I see many, MANY people on these forums, and others, that have lost outrageous amounts of teeth and, truthfully, it's that that gives me pause more than anything. This tooth confusion is SO common in TN sufferers that I seriously doubt anything my teeth feel as being genuine. But I haven't had the disease long enough to trust my own judgement yet!

DeboraRoad said:

My Tn started with tooth pain. I had a root canal and new fillings put in. Nothing helped. My dentist told me to go to a neurologist and that is how I found out I had TN.. I am still very tooth sensitive. Even the root canal tooth. It is not the tooth, it is the nerve.

14

Hi Lou, I know what you mean about the trigger point/s. I have a theory that my trigger points are the (only) two filled teeth I have on that side of my mouth. It's as if my brain is reading them as dangerous threats and a source of pain. Is your 'sensitivity' just like ordinary sensitivity (except more acute, I assume!), or does it feel different in any way? I suffer a lot outdoors with breezes. If I turn just so and air gets in my mouth it will set it off throbbing (before meds it gave me shocks). Is yours the same?

Lou said:

I believe that I have a trigger point in my gum. I don't think it's in the actual tooth. It's also why everything bothers it. Even cool air. As time goes on I understand more and more how the mechanics of this disease work in my head and teeth. I also have a tooth in the front that I cannot even touch when I am in a relapse. It always recovers when I do. So strange.
15

I know what you mean, Wendy. This is my biggest struggle. I'm like one of those devil on one shoulder, angel on the other cartoons. I swither from 'Get the root canal done; that's the real problem' to 'Look at how many people have them done and it's NOT the problem. Talk sense. It's the neuralgia causing this sensitivity.' Like I say, I have dental phobia so I am naturally very anxious around anything to do with teeth. I can only assume I did something very bad in life to have been sent a disease that is playing out via my teeth!

wendyjo said:

When I was diagnosed with tn I still couldn't believe it wasn't my teeth. I cannot count the number of times I had the same teeth checked plus two root canals. I had my mvd in March and the tooth pain is gone. It was never my teeth...
16



Woman with the electric teeth said:

Hi Debora, can I ask you, does your tooth sensitivity feel like 'ordinary' sensitivity, i.e. like something you would use sensitive toothpaste for? Or is it different somehow? This is the thing that most concerns me. My tooth sensitivity feels so ordinary (except it's acute) that it's very hard to convince myself that it isn't dental. I see many, MANY people on these forums, and others, that have lost outrageous amounts of teeth and, truthfully, it's that that gives me pause more than anything. This tooth confusion is SO common in TN sufferers that I seriously doubt anything my teeth feel as being genuine. But I haven't had the disease long enough to trust my own judgement yet!

DeboraRoad said:

My Tn started with tooth pain. I had a root canal and new fillings put in. Nothing helped. My dentist told me to go to a neurologist and that is how I found out I had TN.. I am still very tooth sensitive. Even the root canal tooth. It is not the tooth, it is the nerve.

17

Hi,

Just reading through your post here.

This is how my ATN started a year and a half ago. On one tooth. Progressively felt like the worst tooth ache in the world. I had a filling, a medicated filling, three rounds of antibiotics, many pain pills and finally an unnecessary root canal.

TN feels exactly like a toothache. All this time later and I still am convinced sometimes that there is something wrong with my teeth. My TN goes far beyond my teeth now but that is how it started and that is always the most painful part.

What I have been told about dental work is that I should not have any work done unless there is physical evidence. When the dentist removed the filling he said that the cavity was very close to the nerve and that is why it is so painful and that is why I needed a root canal. Physical evidence would be signs of infection such as a bump of the gum due to an abscess or a dark spot on an xray. If those things are not present than I am safe to assume it is the TN.

My advice to you would be to have a filling put in and not a root canal. Some people wind up in more pain after having dental work so make sure you do your homework before having anything done. Cleo is absolutely the right person to talk to.

18

In sharing my story with you, I was hoping that it might help knowing someone else has experienced similar events.
I’m sorry if I misunderstood the root canal part. You said that the tooth was opened up, and I assumed that to close it would mean to finish it. I’ve reread your story and see that you are considering pulp capping. I don’t know what that is. I apologize.

19

it's my understanding - through dental books- there's 2 types of pulp caps. Direct and indirect. You didn't have decay, right? It was a perfectly good tooth that was opened. If it's a direct pulp cap the long term chances of survival are very poor. If it's indirect pulp cap a medicated temporary filling is placed to calm and shield the nerve until and endo can do a rc or you have the tooth removed at your discretion. Make sure you understand exactly what your dentist is going to do - direct or indirect. Then look up the direct/indirect - research! Good luck. Hope this helped.

20

Many, many thanks for your story, Jane. It was so like mine that it was very reassuring to read. Of course, it may be too late now to save the tooth, since we opened it up, but I'm hoping she might be convinced to try a pulp capping. But now that I know to be more stringent with the condition of a tooth before I allow the dentist to do anything, that's really going to help for any future problems.

This is not really the dentist's fault; she was just trying to help me. Ironically, the level of pain I was in actually went against me. She said when I went that she could see how much pain I was in so "there's obviously something wrong". Even more ironic, when I told her the doctor thought it was TN, she said that she'd thought of that, but thought it was too unlikely! Ah, if only she'd spoken up. Well, I'll just have to make the best of a bad job now.

justjane37 said:

Hi,

Just reading through your post here.

This is how my ATN started a year and a half ago. On one tooth. Progressively felt like the worst tooth ache in the world. I had a filling, a medicated filling, three rounds of antibiotics, many pain pills and finally an unnecessary root canal.

TN feels exactly like a toothache. All this time later and I still am convinced sometimes that there is something wrong with my teeth. My TN goes far beyond my teeth now but that is how it started and that is always the most painful part.

What I have been told about dental work is that I should not have any work done unless there is physical evidence. When the dentist removed the filling he said that the cavity was very close to the nerve and that is why it is so painful and that is why I needed a root canal. Physical evidence would be signs of infection such as a bump of the gum due to an abscess or a dark spot on an xray. If those things are not present than I am safe to assume it is the TN.

My advice to you would be to have a filling put in and not a root canal. Some people wind up in more pain after having dental work so make sure you do your homework before having anything done. Cleo is absolutely the right person to talk to.