Not sure if problem is dental/medical/make-believe *sigh*
 

I am a 39 year old healthy female. Was a smoker but quit last year when all this stuff started.

All was fine...went to dentist June 2012 for routine cleaning and he took full mouth xrays. SAid there were two very bad cavities under old fillings that needed taken care of ASAP. I was not having any problems. There was a cancellation and I got one done the next week. The other had to wait until September for an appt due to dentist schedule, not mine. Late July started getting bad ear ache with sore throat on left side (side remaining to be fixed). I did not associate it with the tooth as the tooth did not hurt. Went to a prompt care facility...I did have a mild fever, but no strep (as per strep test) and MD didn't see anything suspect. told me probably viral and to give it a couple weeks.

A couple of weeks later still having problems so schedule physical. Now we are in August. MD does not see any issues but does find very small movable soft lymph nodes under jaw. So sends me for chest xray just to be sure all okay. Nothing remarkable in xray. He tells me probably dental... Since I have appt to take care of other filling on painful side I wait. I am beginning to experience some discomfort when sucking air in through my mouth on that tooth. But I do not mention it to dentist because i do not want a root canal (as if me not telling him will change the extent ;-) As he drills he hits something OUCH I actually yelled. Last time this happened it was electrocuting pain in a tooth I never had pain in and I had to have a root canal right then. This time he says, oh you felt that...and then stops drilling and fills it up...was not that nerve type pain...felt more like he hit the gum.

I am pleased at this point that there was no root canal. Shortly after the filling....oh man, oh man...now I'm sure it was the tooth...the throat rarely hurts but the ear, and the tongue, and the gums...WOWZA! But no direct pain on any particular teeth...jsut the general area and on around to ear and tongue.

I have seen 3 dentists, an endodontist, a neurologist, two Ent's, a periodontist, my gp - many of them multiple times. Have had neck ultrasound, brain mri, cbc, neck ct w/contrast and a bazillion dental xrays including a panoramic. So far, no doctor/dentist/test has found any problems. I swear to you the pain is real, it is constant, it is consuming me...as is the fear.

Since I have never had health issues to speak of, but my mouth is full of filled teeth and constant cavities (despite my regular dental trips since...birth?). I can't help but suspect, and even hope, my problem is dental and not something very bad in a non-dental area. However, I don't know what to do? any advice, similar situations?

thanks for listening :)

add an oral surgeon to that list of specialists. All of these specialists act as if I am a nut job that has a cancer obsession...which even if I do does not change the reality of my painful situation.

And don't get me wrong, I am thankful for all the negative findings. Just concerned when all is negative...then what is it? And how do we make it stop?

Hi Justme,

I am in the dental profession and I can try to help you regarding any obvious dental issues that may have been missed or undiagnosed, but I would need xrays. Any chance you could post the panoramic xray and other xrays of this area? You could post them here or pm them to me. Or pm me and I will give you my email address.

Do you have any root canaled teeth? Have you ever had an apicoectomies? If so, what teeth were involved? Do you still have your wisdom teeth? Ever have orthodontia,if so when? Do you have periodontal disease? Have you ever been treated for periodontal disease? Do you have mercury fillings... composite fillings... crowns??

Bryanna

Okay...I have one root canaled tooth. It is right next door to the left tooth that had the deep filling. Dentist "says" it appears okay still. This was the first I had heard a root canaled tooth could ever not be okay!

All four of my wisdom teeth were pulled in 2007...not impacted. Just pulled under novacain anesthesia because two had cavities dentist said he couldn't get back there to fill.

Most of my fillings are amalgram...but some are composite. I have most of my dental records so I can tell you more specific if you need.

And yes...I have the pan and most all the other dental xrays. I will see if I can figure out how to get them on here. If you have a way for me to email them I can probably get you better copies by just forwarding the dentists' emails to you...

Let me know what you prefer.

Thank you for your willingness to help!

Wendi

I don't know what the apioc...is so I supsect not...although the nerve was removed from the root canaled tooth. I have never had orthodontia. They are currently making me a splint for any TMJ issues although they do not beleive I have any severe TMJ issues.

I put the photos in an album that I think you have access to on my profile. Let me know if there is some other/better way.

Thanks again!

Wendi

Hi Wendi,

The xrays are of good quality but some of them are too small. I just sent you a pm with my email address requesting you send them to me via email.

I'll take a look later to see if you have sent them to me.

Bryanna

I have sent them to you. Pls let me know if u don't receive. Thank you

Wendi