Tooth Trauma HELP!

General Idiopathic Facial Pain Discussion
1

Hi, Can anyone offer any advice?

10 weeks ago I bit down on a hard cracker using my front teeth, my front left upper #1 hurt as the cracker was quite tough. The tooth began to ache quite severely, it felt tender and was painful when I would put pressure on it. The pain and tenderness subsided after a few days, the tooth began to feel better after 2 weeks.

The pain/ache did keep me awake at night, that began to get less and less as the weeks went by, I can now sleep and occasionally I will feel a horrible dull heavy ache.

However! by the end of week two, the pain came back worst than ever before. Its a constant dull heavy ache that increases at any time. The ache makes my whole head hurt, makes my head feel different (similar to TN pain, but not).

The tooth is sometimes sensitive to hot and cold foods/fluids, not sharp pain, just makes the tooth ache more. But this does not happen everytime I eat or drink, only sometimes, there doesn't seem to be any pattern.

I have seen my dentist several times during these 10 weeks, x-rays show nothing wrong with the tooth, there is no cavity, no filling, no other previous dental work on this tooth. My dentist says its my ATN casing the pain, not the tooth. My dentist has now refused to treat me, says he can do nothing more because I have ATN, can only refer me to Maxillofacial.

I believe the tooth is damaged, or is dying, I feel my dentist is treating me as a ATN patient and is missing the real problem.

Has anyone been in a similar situation, bitten down on something hard and then had pain for several weeks afterwards, did the pain get better?

How do I know if my tooth is dying?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

2

I went to the dentist for tooth ache, same tooth three times, different dentist and they could fine nothing wrong with it and he referred me to a specialist for nerves he said it was a nerve problem not dental. So I have TN and the pain is so bad I can't even brush all my teeth can barely open my mouth with pain every time. The good thing is I am loosing weight. But it is causing so many other problems. I need a new Dr, one that will give me something for the pain.

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Hi Hinton,

I certainly cannot tell you whether there is anything wrong with your tooth but I can tell you my experience. I have ATN as well. Each time it has started in a tooth. This is very common. Every few months a different tooth will start hurting and I go through the exact same thing every single time...there must be something wrong with the tooth! Well, to the dentist I go to have it checked and no problems showing. I leave it and eventually it moves or goes away.

In my three years with this I have learnt that if there is nothing physically wrong with the tooth then do not do anything. That is how people end up having unnecessary root canals and extractions. We see it time and again on here. Be thankful that your dentist is aware of TN and isn't trying to talk you into something you do not need.

If you are not convinced then get a second opinion but do not go looking for problems. TN is a great faker.

Jane

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Thank you so much for your replies, very much appreciated.

I hear what you say about not wanting to force the dentist to do unnecessary dental work, that is something that has already happened to with me I'm afraid.

This situation all started after biting down on a hard cracker, the tooth has been hurting ever since, now into week 10. I dont think the pain is TN related, it seems the tooth is traumatized.

My GP reckons the tooth is traumatized, my concerns are... is the tooth damaged, is it dying, or is it bruised?

I think my dentist maybe missing the real problem, he seems to think its ATN, but why would my ATN get worst, I bit down on a hard cracker, the tooth has had trauma, so it could be damaged and dying.

It is such an horrible situation to be in, especially because its my front left upper tooth.

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When my teeth started hurting I spent money I didn't have seeing dentists and having x rays. When a cluster of teeth hurt back I went again suspecting it was gum disease! As I write this I have my 4th tooth hurting for the day; my front one which feels like it's being bent in half and about to snap. I too have ATN.

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My left bottom canine has been in excruciating pain (meds help) for 13 months after getting a retainer taken off the teeth… Numerous dentist endodontist oral surgeons etc tons of X-rays they say nothing wrong with the tooth . They say atn it’s like it’s a mystery I hate it.but we have to go on. Just don’t understand how a tooth hurts every for 13months on end

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I have seen two Maxillofacial consultants in the past 6 weeks, the first consultant said its ATN and he refused to believe me that I had bitten down on hard food, she was not interested in my front tooth pain.

The second consultant actually believes me and says the tooth is traumatized and said the tooth is not dead yet, he has made a clear gum shield for me to wear to help the tooth heal, so I got to go back as a follow up appointment.

I just dont understand how a tooth can hurts for 11 weeks solid after biting down on a hard cracker and not be damaged, I have read on the internet that teeth can suffer Reversible or Irreversible Pulpitis after a trauma.

I reckon the tooths pulp is trying to recover, but it may fail due to why it is taking so long, I hope I am wrong.

My GP told be to apply some Glove Oil on the gum around the root, I did this and now the Clove Oil has burnt my gums. I now have red inflamed gums wear I applied the Clove Oil, I cant win, it goes from bad to worst.

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I have done so much research on ATN. is your tooth pain on one tooth or it jumps from tooth to tooth. They say ATN usually get triggered from works in molar tooth. Front teeth are less likely. They also say some hairline cracks or vertical and all doesn't come in xray always. if you get treated for ATN you will never feel better if you have a issue with the tooth . You have to eliminate different possibilities to confirm 100% that it is ATN. in my case I did tooth extraction, I did sinus surgery ( a cyst was there in sinus chamber above tooth) to confirm 100% ATN. there is no other choice for us dear.

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Thank you for everyone's advice, all very much appreciated.

I have an update, and I cannot believe the awful way I have been treated by my NHS dentist, and the first Maxilloacial consultant.

We are nearly 4 months on from the tooth trauma incident, when I bit down on a hard cracker, when the pain all started. I have been having pain from the upper front left #1, throbbing pain, dull ache, horrendous dull ache, the pain and ache would also move along the other teeth on same side towards the rear.

I have been back and forth to my dentist, only for them to tell me they cannot see anything wrong with the tooth, that the pain is ATN. My dentist referred me to Maxillofacial, the locum consultant there also said its ATN. The consultant sent a letter of diagnosis back to my dentist, since the letter my dentist has now refused to treat me, said I would need to find another dentist. OMG!

I was not convinced with the diagnoses, the tooth felt like it was damaged to me, I did not have any ATN pain previous. The pain all started after I had bitten down hard, that tells me the tooth had trauma.

I asked my doctor for a second opinion with the Maxillofacial, this is when I saw one of the best professors there. He straight away diagnosed me with 'trauma to the tooth', he made me a clear gum shield biting appliance to help the tooth while it recovers, he said he will see me in 6 weeks.

Weeks later I ended up at a emergency dentist due to the horrendous pain that I was in, the dentist diagnose the tooth being Irreversible Pulpitis, necrosis and infection had set in.

So basically, my tooth has been dying all this time, my dentist has been treating me as a ATN patient, totally overlooking what the real problem was/is. The first Maxillofacial consultant also got it wrong, the consultant made up her mind before I even walked into her office.

Thank god for the second Maxillofacial consultant, I go back to see him next week, he will then know the whole story, and I'm sure he will not be impressed with his team. I am going to request that I have the tooth extracted, I really dont want root canal treatment, they only fail, plus people say RC's can give infection throughout the body, is this true?

Due to this being one of my front teeth, and where I have lost so many rear teeth, I will finally have to get partial dentures.

I feel totally let down my my NHS dentist, and by the first Maxillofacial consultant, they all treated me as a ATN patient. They did not listen to me, I reckon they thought I was making it all up, they totally overlooked that my tooth was actually dying.

I'm just hoping the hospital can extract the tooth, otherwise I have to find another dentist which can take upto two plus months just to get registered.

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I have similar issues so please do come back and let us know how you are feeling. Please let me know if pulling the tooth makes your pain go away. Hope you get to feeling better. Thanx

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Hi Jennifer,

Yes I will, I am sure the pain will go once the tooth has been extracted.

The emergency dentist said the tooth may have a micro crack (fracture), they dont show up on x-rays. I have been in this situation before, and the pain went after the extraction.

Dentists seem to not like taking teeth out, they would rather you keep them, even though they cannot be 100% sure that the tooth is not damaged (micro crack) etc.

12

Do you have any other symptoms?

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No other symptoms.

Since the emergency dentist visit, the pain has got worst. I cant even touch the tooth or put pressure on it, something cant be right.

14

No aching in your jaw or face? No burning? Nothing? I’m sorry what your going threw. Trust me we all are in pain . I understand. Please do let us know your outcome

15

Yes, I have a tremendous constant aching in the same side, seems to be referring. I can feel the pain move along my cheek in the jaw up the side of my nose through the centre of my head (this all started again when I bit down on the hard cracker).

This is why the dentist and the first Maxillofacial consultant says its my ATN, but at the same time the tooth is damaged/dead/cracked, so the nerves are live with pain, sending signals back and forth.


Jennifer m said:

No aching in your jaw or face? No burning? Nothing? I'm sorry what your going threw. Trust me we all are in pain . I understand. Please do let us know your outcome
16

Update!
I had my Maxillofacial follow up appointment last week, the professor gave me two options, have the root canal completed, or have the tooth extracted.

After great deal of thought, I had the tooth extracted. I couldn’t bare another root canal, and after all the terrible things I had read regarding how RC’s can cause infection and disease in the body, the choice was made.

The professor reckons the pain and ache I am suffering is both a damaged tooth, combined with ATN.

I am glad to say the terrible left-side pain has gone, went soon after the extraction. I felt pain on all four quadrants after the extraction for the first 3 days, its was awful. I still have some pain now, it feels like sinus pressure.

The pain is along both-sides of my nose, top of nose and front of forehead. The pain pressure keeps drifting in and out, this pain I felt before the extraction, I thought it was related to the damaged tooth, but I was obviously wrong. I also feel ache and moving pain along my bottom teeth, this keeps drifting in and out.

My GP said I may have Sinusitis, and has given me antibiotics. He also mentioned Pseudoephedrine, the Pseudoephedrine works instantly, takes away the pressure pain within the Hour.

I’m not quite sure whats going on, I have lost another tooth, that has got rid of one lot of pain. But! I still have a pressure ache/pain which I dont know if its Sinus related or if its ATN, or both.

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Update!
Since the extraction of front left #1 incisor where most of the pain went after the extraction, I was still left with a type of pressure pain at top of nose, front forehead and around both eyes.

My GP reckoned I had a sinus infection, so he put me on a course of antibiotics. The pressure pain went after two days of taking the antibiotics, but as soon as I finished the course, the pain returned. So my GP gave me a second course of antibiotics, and the same thing happened, the pain went, then pain returned after I had finished the second course.

I was doubtful the pain was TN related, but to settle my mind I started taking the amitriptyline again. BINGO! after just two days the pain subsided, after one week the pressure pain has nearly gone.

I am now thinking, WHAT IF?

What if I had started taking the amitriptyline when I first traumatised the front left #1 incisor. The pain I was experiencing, was it ATN pain, or tooth damaged pain?

In the past, many times before Amitriptyline has not worked on my ATN pain, but this time it has worked.

I’m at a lost, I am totally confused and another tooth lost. sad-face…

I am now being measured for partial dentures, better late than never I suppose. I’m not sure how I am going to get on with partial dentures, especially when my dentist says its going to be difficult for the lab to mirror the other front tooth, as both my front teeth are at an angle. The gap is wider at the top than the bottom, maybe difficult to slot in a tooth using a denture.

How many people here suffer ATN and where dentures, do the dentures make your TN worst?

The other matter I would like to mention is… During the past 6 months when suffering all this terrible tooth trauma ordeal, I have actually suffered pain on both sides at the same time. I have also suffered pain on all 4 quadrants one after the other, plus two at a time (left and right). It has felt like a pin-ball game at times, the pain being the ball being hit around my mouth/head.

If only I could give my pain to one of the consultants, one of the maxillofacial consultants, let them feel my pain on both sides at the same time.

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