Been for a scan at hospital

[rach.atkinson]

Hi , just joined . Just wondered if anyone has had the same experience as me !
I had my 2nd molar removed in January and ever since my wisdom tooth behind it has been hurting on and off. Dentist thought I might be biting down on it and it hurting so 3 dentist visits later they kept filing it down. Pain comes and goes but is getting worse now . Filed tooth down again a couple if weeks ago but it’s still getting worse. They sent me for a dental x ray at the hospital and they have just rang me and said that they cannot see anything wrong on the x ray so they are referring me to another hospital further away to do some more Tests? Please help ? Thank you . I have photos of the X-ray too

 

[Dr M]

Good day

Can you please attach photos of the x-ray?

 

[rach.atkinson]

Good day

Can you please attach photos of the x-ray?

 

[honestdoc]

Fortunately I'm not seeing any disease and according to the pano x-ray, you had your Lower Right first molar removed. The 2nd molar behind it has the tendency to tip forward (towards the midline, mesial drift). You don't have a wisdom tooth on that side unless your wisdom tooth shifted to the 2nd molar position. Since the molar was extracted, your biting dynamics have changed shifting more biting stress on the 2nd molar. I recommend trying an Over-the-Counter Night Guard at your local drug store and consider full restorative options to stabilize your bite and consider custom bite guard.

 

[rach.atkinson]

Thank you for your reply. I forgot to say in first bit that I had a bite guard made about 3 weeks ago and have been wearing it every night for 3 weeks and it just seems to be getting worse. Feel like I’m imagining the pain that comes and goes because no one can see anything wrong ! I’m very scared that no one knows what’s wrong as I don’t want to be in pain for the rest of my life .

 

[rach.atkinson]

Also I was told that the tooth was my wisdom tooth as when I was younger i had 4 teeth removed to get prepared for a brace which I didn’t end up having

 

[honestdoc]

Also I was told that the tooth was my wisdom tooth as when I was younger i had 4 teeth removed to get prepared for a brace which I didn’t end up having

I'm not trying to contradict you unless you provided someone else's x-ray. Usually the 4 teeth removed for braces are 1st Premolar (Bicuspids) and sometimes 2nd Premolars on all 4 quads. I notice you have both Premolars on LR, UL, & LL. Only the UR is where you have the 2nd Premolar missing. I suspect you had all wisdom teeth removed (3rd molars). You can see on the LR (LL on the x-ray) where you have no 3rd molar and remnants of where the first molar was extracted.

Do you have expanded x-ray showing the neck of your jaw bone? I wonder if you have any arthritic changes in you TMJ. I suggest you see a TMJ specialist for an opinion of your pain. I agree with the previous dentists in that the x-ray provided (other than images of your TMJ joint) show no sources of your pain. My differential guesses from most likely to least is this. 1. TMJ/grinding/clenching joint degeneration 2. Referred pain from previous injury(ies) or surgeries, 3. idiopathic (unexplained) or further workup/details (medical conditions, etc) are needed.

 

[rach.atkinson]

I think if I remember rightly I have had 10 teeth removed. The pain is not only on that back tooth sometimes it seems likes it’s spreading along my jawline- both upper right and lower right. That’s the only x ray I have I’m afraid . I did read about TMJ and thought this maybe related as I read that TMJ could cause headaches too which I get quite a bit. Thank you very much for explanations and help .

 

[rach.atkinson]

Another thing to add is I do have like a clicking when I open my mouth wide and I’ve seen this can be related to TMJ too