Fun with Dental Work

[eibbil_libbie]

History:

May 2011 - anniversary dinner with husband, half of left rear molar cracks off. Go to dentist, get crown on broken tooth. One day later, back at dentist in excruciating pain. Bite adjusted, pain lessens.

June 2011 - get permanent crown put in. Excruciating pain again. Four appointments to adjust bite. Finally get that settled, but still painful and can't chew anything on that side. Dentist who did crown so bad a novocaine I actually cry when he numbs area.

November 2011 - cleaning. mention pain on left side to dentist who did crown, using ambesol all day to cope with the pain, told it's just sensitive.

May 2012 - Another cleaning, get different dentist who takes one look at the crown and says "there's a gap between the gum and the crown, that's where pain is coming from. Dentist has to refer me to one of the partners to get crown redone.

May 2012 - Meet with partner who assures me it's not the crown, gives me prescription sensitive teeth toothpaste.

In between all of these visits I got through bouts of mouth pain that have me carrying tubes of anbesol with me wherever I go, or clenching my teeth to the point of pain. Starting to wear a mouthgard at night, and sometimes during the day to break the cycle. In other words, for 18 months, I haven't ever had a full day without some sort of mouth pain.

Today was my cleaning and while I went through the history with the dentist, she said there were signs the nerve under the molar was dying, said a root canal would do the trick (I'm not fussed, I've had four so far.) Then she looks in my mouth and pokes around. Within two minutes, she's telling me I need to consult with the one of the partners to confirm the need for a root canal and replacing the crown because "it's not right."

I turned to look at her and said "I really don't need another appointment where I'm told its fine and I get prescription toothpaste." She assured me that I was seeing the other partner and that wouldn't happen.

So here's hoping.

I just want to have no pain on the left side of my mouth. I want to be able to chew there.

And next time I want a hygienist that flosses my teeth...not rapes my gums.

Comments

[rainpuddle13]

*crosses fingers that this time they will fix the problem*

I know this has been an on going battle for you for ages now. I've got a molar that has done the same thing and I've put off going to the dentist forever now because I don't want to deal with the hassle of a crown. Ugh.

[eibbil_libbie]

If this guy tries to tell me it's not the crown I'm going to tell him that they need to screen their dentists better because TWO of them will have now recommended crown replacement independent of each other. And they can call this dentist in and I will watch him explain to her WHY it's not necessary when she thought it was.

And if he still doesn't budge, I'm going to flat out say that I don't GAF if they're replacing the crown for free. I'll pay my share of it...just fix my damned mouth.

[imaginarycircus]

Oh, sweetie. I am so sorry to hear about this. That would drive me bananas!

[eibbil_libbie]

It does, believe me. When you celebrate a day you didn't use your mouthguard or anbesol once that day, it's a pretty sad state.

Mouths and backs - consistent pain that sucks and ensures you're never really comfortable.

[imaginarycircus]

I know! I have chronic back and hip pain. And whatever is wrong with my skin right now is making my nether regions awful. I won't tell you about it, because yeah, no--but UGH. It's driving me around the twist. And your mouth is another super sensitive area! D: