I had molar #19 filled back in mid-March and the tooth had tingled, but not really ached, a couple of times before that. Afterwards I developed a lot of stress and anxiety related to my teeth. In April the same molar began to actually ache after I woke up one morning after a very stressful evening where I was holding a lot of tension in my jaw before bed, but not clenching.
A few days later I ended up back at my dentist, who took an x-ray and examined the tooth, and said I didn't need a root canal, but also referred me to an endodontist. The endodontist also confirmed, with an x-ray and more diagnostic tests that I didn't need a root canal. The endodontist said he noticed signs of clenching and grinding and recommended a night guard from my dentist. I've tried a couple of OTC night guards that I just couldn't get comfortable and ende d up throwing them away. The guard from my dentist would be $500 and insurance won't cover it.
The tooth has ached for a day or two a couple times after that, with one time being a day after getting rid of a night guard then eating some almonds that caused a bit of pain. It hasn't kept me up at night and responds pretty well to Tylenol and ibuprofen, calming down after a couple days of aching.
But at this point I don't know what to do. I'm tired of having this and I'm concerned that it might slowly be getting infected, even though the x-ray didn't show infection. I'm not 100% convinced it's flaring up from grinding. Maybe I should go back to my dentist and have another x-ray?
Or would it be crazy to ask for a root canal just to be done with the aching pain that I keep dealing with? Thanks for any insight.
A few days later I ended up back at my dentist, who took an x-ray and examined the tooth, and said I didn't need a root canal, but also referred me to an endodontist. The endodontist also confirmed, with an x-ray and more diagnostic tests that I didn't need a root canal. The endodontist said he noticed signs of clenching and grinding and recommended a night guard from my dentist. I've tried a couple of OTC night guards that I just couldn't get comfortable and ende d up throwing them away. The guard from my dentist would be $500 and insurance won't cover it.
The tooth has ached for a day or two a couple times after that, with one time being a day after getting rid of a night guard then eating some almonds that caused a bit of pain. It hasn't kept me up at night and responds pretty well to Tylenol and ibuprofen, calming down after a couple days of aching.
But at this point I don't know what to do. I'm tired of having this and I'm concerned that it might slowly be getting infected, even though the x-ray didn't show infection. I'm not 100% convinced it's flaring up from grinding. Maybe I should go back to my dentist and have another x-ray?
Or would it be crazy to ask for a root canal just to be done with the aching pain that I keep dealing with? Thanks for any insight.
