I am hoping that typing this out might help me get my situation clearer in my head. I made a bit of a fool of myself today at the dentist when I decided I couldn't face what they wanted to do and cried. ( I am 48). Since June I have had non stop dental pain on lower left side. I now have 4 crowned teeth and 3 of them are root canal filled. There were accesses involved ( x ray evidence and swelling) which responded to antibiotics so the treatment was not just for pain. The last of the crowns was being completed a month ago and it was clear that tooth was hypersensitive. It was agony at the time and has never been quite right since it was done.
Then 3 weeks ago I developed trigeminal neuralgic pain in the same area. I saw my Dr and he agred I have classic TN. It responds to carbamazepine quite well (moderate dose) It is not as bad as many of those on the TN thread. It was however drop to your knees, can't eat can't speak pain and it was clear it is not the sort of pain you can live with. I identified triggers and over the last. 5 days it has been better so I wound down the carbamazepine a bit. Not sure if pain caused by dental treatment or much of the Dental work is as a result of the pain.

Today I went to the dentist and asked if there was something they could do for the hypersensitive tooth ( now crowned) as between it and a molar it is sore every time I eat etc. They spoke about denervating the tooth , removing the tooth etc.
It is clear I need to find a dentist in Scotland who knows about trigeminal neuralgia as they did not really seem to understand. I simply could of let them drill the tooth today for fear the TN came back strong nor did I want them to remove the tooth as I am not sure the tooth is the cause of the TN.
Anyone had to do similar and how did you find a dentist as most don 't specify this as an area off speciality.
Thanks Maisie .

You have been through so much. I have cried at the dentist too, so don't feel bad about that. Please post to Bryanna. She has 30 years experience and is around the dental site postings. You need of course to see a specialist who not only knows dentistry but TN. It is my understanding that denerving a tooth is the same thing as a root canal. These root canals can and do cause trouble. Keep coming back, More postings will come up about your situation. Do seek out This dear lady, as she has helped alot of people on neuro talk with some pretty difficult situations. You can also post to her private if you want to. I trust her advice Maisie, and feel she would be the most knowledgeable on the dentist issues on this site. I hope that you can find a resolution to your pain, and that the TN is address in a way that it is not agrivated by further complications. Be good to yourself. ginnie

Hi Maisie,

A patient crying or becoming emotionally upset at the dentist office.... happens occasionally with patients who have been in pain or who are dealing with long term discomfort and see no end to their dental problems. Dealing with this situation can be emotionally draining. So unless you are someone who cries at the drop of a hat or is generally overly emotional, then please don't feel embarrassed about breaking down. I hope your dentist was compassionate with you and at least somewhat reassuring.

Dental work can and does cause or contribute to TN... there is no uncertainty about that. Let me play back your dental history.....3 abscessed teeth in a row .....3 root canaled teeth in a row.... 4 crowned teeth in a row...and now the 4th one is acting up. Sounds to me like there is a bacterial problem that has caused a definitive pattern of unresolved infection. I would venture to say that this 4th crown may not fit properly based on the symptoms that you have described. However, I think that is only one issue as there is much more going on in that area of your mouth that is causing a considerable amount of inflammation.

Any chance you could post the xrays of these teeth prior to the root canals and the latest ones taken after the crowns were put on? If you want to send them to me privately, please pm me and I'll send you my email.

I wish there was such a thing as a dentist who specialized in TN....but I don't think you're going to find that. It may be helpful to find a dentist that understands the pitfalls of root canaled teeth and how irritated the bundles of nerves become from all the bacteria still living in these teeth and how traumatic and invasive he root canal procedure is to the tooth.

Perhaps you could locate someone near you through the IAOMT organization. www.iaomt.org is their website and it explains what the members are about.

Let me know if you feel comfortable sending the xrays here or to my email. I may be able to offer you some information after seeing them.

Bryanna