I have been struggling with unidentified tooth/facial pain for almost a year.

In August 2019, I had a deep filling done on my second upper tooth. The tooth hurt for a week or so, and then calmed down.

In October 2019, the tooth flared up again. It started reacting strangely to very hot drinks. However, all tests for pulpitis came back negative. It did not react to cold, the X-rays and CT scans were fine.

It’s just that I had this on and off going pain, like feeling cold and hot in my tooth without any external contact, sometimes it was just dull pain.

I was almost decided to give it time and wait for it to calm, however, my dentist suggested to change filling material because it might cause such issues. Unfortunately, they drilled too far and now I had to do root canal. This was very traumatic to me, I really broke down after that. My only comfort was that maybe root canal would finally rid me of this pain. Alas, it was not to be. Here I am, 8 months later, and the pain is still here. I would even say that it has become a little worse.

I can eat/drink only slightly warm food, anything else provokes the pain. Sometimes, hot shower starts the pain too. I noticed that being on sun and warming my cheek also starts this pain!

The pain is not constant. Sometimes it starts with some external stimulus (like hot shower or food), sometimes it’s just here.

It feels.. strange. Sometimes it’s throbbing, sometimes it’s burning somewhere deep in the tooth & gum. Sometimes it feels just like deep nerve pain, than comes and goes in waves. Sometimes it’s shooting into nearby teeth. Sometimes my face also hurts, under my nose and inside it (like tickling), under my eye.

In March 2020, I had done a CT scan and had been to two endodontist. They looked very carefully at the pictures, but did not find any source of the pain. No signs of missed canals, nothing.

They suggested a visit to neurologist, but then the epidemics broke out and here I am, stuck at home, with undiagnosed pain condition.

Maybe anyone has experienced something similar? What was your solution? I would be glad to receive any feedback.

I can't help you but perhaps someone else can. Hope it gets better soon.

Kitt

I am hopeful that this is not an old thread because what you typed is my condition exactly! Same feelings, same situation. I don't want to go on and on but mine began last spring and it's been relentless 2 root canals later and I am in worse shape then before I had them. I have had very good doctors who were slow to do any work but my pain kept bringing me back to them which ultimately lead to two root canals one next to the other.

I met an oral surgeon and he suggested it might have a micro crack in it. Maybe that's been my problem the whole time? The only way to know is to have the tooth out and I am holding on as long as I can. Your not alone!!

I tried to send you a private message, not sure if it went through I am not familiar with this site. But if you want to talk I would be happy to compare stories. They are very famiiar. This is a lonely place to be. My family does not know what to do and I know my dentists feel bad for me but they are not sure. Hang in there and let me know if you need to talk.

Hope you get an answer. Can't blame you for not wanting to have the tooth out. Take care.

Kitt

Thank you!


It is not old, it is very much active & relevant. I do want to compare our stories!

We can try using messages here, in this thread, **

I haven't received any private messages, only a friends request...

**

Oh! I found your private message now. But I'm not sure how to reply to it.

**

Or maybe it would be better to continue here in case someone else comes across and offers us a solution.

So! I'll start then. I have a number of thoughts regarding this condition, so I guess I want to compare some things.

1. What exact tooth do you mean? Mine is upper left lateral incisor, #10.

2. When did your pain start at first? Before or after root canal?

For me, it was after deep filling, but before root canal. I had to do root canal because of this pain, but it never went away.

3. Your symptoms worsened over time, with every root canal, correct?

Mine sure did.

4. How would you describe the pain? What is it like?

Mine is throbbing / burning / drilling! / sometimes shooting. In the gum and somewhere around the tooth, mostly. May wander a little bit to the left or to the right.

5. Is the pain constant, every day? Or are there days when you almost forget about it?

6. Does the pain radiate anywhere?

Sometimes, but not often, I feel tickling in my nose, like the pain wanders there. It may also hurt under my eye, but this is not that often.

7. Do you have reaction to warm and/or cold?

I cannot eat even slightly warm food now. I can drink water of only neutral temperature, too hot or too warm triggers the pain.

When it all started, I could eat more temperature ranged food. It gets worse

8. Do you sometimes feel that your gum is on fire?

Because all this time I multiply felt like I have burned my gum with something too hot. It was one of the first symptoms.

9. Does brushing your teeth make things worse?

10. Have your ever triggered pain by applying something hot to your face?

Because for me not only hot shower triggered the pain, but sitting with my left cheek IN SUN ON A HOT DAY. Maybe it was a coincidence, but.. who knows.

Woosh, 10 questions will be fine for now, I guess. But I'm sure I will have more thoughts later. Waiting for your replies.

Well, here it is once again!

I rinsed my mouth with water - which as it happens was not of a perfect comfortable temperature - and my tooth (or something nearby) instantly flared up - with pain and almost fire sensation. It calmed down after 5 seconds or so. But later I started feeling strange tingling in my nose and face.

And the tooth has still some lingering pain after that. It feels like my gum has been burned, and after this also the tooth keeps flaring up every now and then (from minute to ten) with some.. burning, throbbing pain.



Does anything sound familiar?

Can a tooth even hurt like this? It's soooo strange!