FlavoredAir,
Thanks for posting the x-rays. It is clear that your two upper molars are in close contact with your sinuses. The roots may actually be into the sinus area but since the film is only 2 dimensional that is not conclusive. There appears to be pathology indicative of inflammation, possibly infection in the sinus area at the tips of the roots with both of these teeth.
Your physician sounds like a pleasant and caring person but did he tell you that he has no training in reading dental x-rays? It is quite possible that you have a TMJ problem but that is not the cause of your tooth problem.
When we have pain in our teeth or in our sinus area, we tend to clench our teeth together as a way of soothing the pain. The clenching can cause a TMJ flare up and you would feel tender in the masseter and other facial muscles. So it is not a surprise for your physician to diagnose that at this time. It would also make sense for these muscles to be over stimulated after having a lot of dental work in a short period of time.
If the sinus infection is related to these teeth.... then antibiotics may temporarily subside the symptoms but they will not "cure" that infection.
I just want you to be aware of the facts that you may not be told by your physician or your dentist.
Bryanna
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Originally Posted by FlavoredAir
Update: Just came back from my primary doctor, and he's fairly certain that what I'm experiencing is a fairly unpleasant TMJ flare up.
He looked over the x-rays I provided him and performed several tests - including one in which he felt my face around the jaw and nearby muscles and triggered some pretty spectacular pain on my right side jaw muscle - and is fairly confident that between the sinus infection I had in November, and all of the dental work I've had done in the last few months, I've aggravated my jaw something fierce.
This makes a lot of sense to me, as my bite has been out of whack since all of this began, and that I have a tendency to chew on straws and other stuff - specifically on my right side (though usually I grind things between my canines, but it's always on the right side). I've also had crackling and popping when eating.
He also said the fact that I've lost 40lbs in the last eight months and haven't had my CPAP therapy re-evaluated leads him to believe I'm definitely either bruxing or grinding my teeth at night, which is another indicator of TMJ.
So, for now, he put my on Clindamycin to clear up what might be left of the sinus infection, and Vicodin for the evenings for the pain, and instructed me to setup a new appointment with the dentist to discuss my TMJ treatment options.
I'll post back here after I have that appointment.
Thanks again for all of the information & advice.
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