Dear all,

Going to try to keep this short and simple - Hopefully someone could help get me to think right especially with all this pain.


About myself:
- Mid 20s.
- Non smoker
- Occasional drinker
- Floss, brush daily.
- Accidentally skipped a few days of my night flossing during early November due to jetlag and fatigue.


Sequence of Events:
1. Started having toothaches whenever I eat on the upper right side of my teeth during the mid of Nov.
2. 16-Nov-2015. Went to the dentist, had an x-ray and found out the first and second molars to my right have deep cavities.
3. Dentist did a pulpotomy treatment on the first molar, as she would like to avoid doing RCT if the tooth may survive this.
4. Pain intensified, sensitivity heightened after the pulpotomy treatment.
5. 20-Nov-2015 - Went to the dentist a second time, this time a different one. Found my second molar was actually dead with no response to cold (not sure why the first dentist did not notice this). Asked for extraction after discussion with this dentist for the following combined reasons:

• Time taken for RCT - Currently working at a foreign country with tight deadlines - Unfortunately my job takes quite a priority in life.
• Excruciating pain - Wanted something to stop the pain immediately. Painkillers did little for me then.
• A wisdom tooth is growing at the back - Confirmed with the dentist that this looks to be growing out straight. The wisdom tooth may take place of the second molar (and with extra room to grow - It appeared that there wasn't much space left on my jaw).
• Cost - I could always have my employer pay in my stead, which is reasonable seeing that I am in Geneva, though I am aware they will be conscious of the cost. *sigh*

6. Extraction tooth place and I was a happy man. First molar was still very sensitive to cold water, but I took that as the tooth needing time to recover. Started using interdental brush, toothpaste to reduce sensitivity, PlakOut gel. All good for about 10 days. Food did get into the extraction site occasionally but that was dealt with a quick rinse of my mouth.
7. 2-Dec-2015 - A dull ache started on my extraction site, or on my first molar (hoping it is just referred pain). I could not exactly pinpoint the source of the pain. Over the days it grow into ache + pain, bad enough to make me want to knock myself to sleep. No swelling on gum nor face, no fever.
8. There isn't a consistency to this pain, i.e. not related to my meals. It could hurt at one moment and not at all on another, with due aches in between. What is consistent is the response to cold water, where the tooth/extraction site would feel really sensitive for a couple seconds then subside. Still fine with hot drinks.



I am prepped to return to the dentist next Monday if the pain still continues to be this excruciating. Currently I am on ibuprofen to reduce the pain, already took 4 over the past 24 hours.

Could someone share with me what could possibly be happening to me, possibly a dry socket (10 days after extraction?), or the gum on my first molar receded a bit due to the extraction of my second molar causing pain + sensitivity? Or my first molar is just boinkers now and I should go ahead with RCT immediately?

Many thanks in advance, any replies would be really comforting for me.