Today, after 6 dentist visits, 2 root canals, and $1,500 that I'll likely have to sell vital organs to pay, the agonizing tooth pain I've had for months is unrelenting. Apparently, shrugging and offering to experimentally yank all my bottom teeth is my smurf-shit of a dentist's actual plan. FML
Collection
College Life
Packed lecture halls, a sketchy roommate and frat parties: welcome to college, the real thing.
Today, it was the fourth time I've had major dental work done, because my dentist messed up my root canal. After almost a dozen needles, three missed work days, over $1,000, and 2 broken tools, I only have a tiny, barely-successful filling to show for it. FML
Today, I went to my new dentist and before he started looking at my teeth, I told him my previous dentist had never found a single thing wrong with my teeth. After looking around, he chuckled humourlessly and called my last dentist idiotic. I now have a $580 bill and a root canal next week. FML
Today, I went to the dentist at 8:30 for a check up. I walked out at 2:00 with a root canal and several thousand dollars in debt. I guess I'm not having a wedding this year or quitting the job I hate. FML
Today, I went to the dentist to get a cavity filled. The numbing medication didn't work, so I felt everything. I was in so much pain that I accidentally bit down on the dentist's finger, causing him to yell in agony. Now, I have to find a new dentist. FML
Today, I had an appointment with my dentist to check for cavities. He told me that most of my teeth have cavities, and that I may need a root canal. In fact, I ended up actually getting a painful root canal. FML
Today, after a year or more of suffering with wisdom tooth pain, I finally had all 4 removed a few days ago. Relief? No. I’m in more pain now than I’ve ever been, and I can’t even eat for comfort. FML
Today, my dentist called and told me that the surgery to remove my wisdom teeth - which I desperately need and saved for a year to be able to afford - will actually cost nearly $2000 more than originally stated. The surgery is supposed to be in three days. FML
Today, in a bid to avoid going to the dentist, my husband decided to have one of his drunk buddies pull his tooth out with pliers. Now he has to have surgery to remove the shards of tooth left rotting in his mouth. It’s going to cost thousands. Thanks babe. FML
Today, I went to the dentist after 24 hours of severe tooth pain. They did an emergency root canal. After the anesthesia wore off, within minutes, the pain returned only worse than before. Called the dentist, I had to return, only to find they had done the root canal on the wrong tooth. FML
Today, after two root canal procedures done on the same tooth in last two years, the tooth had been acting up for a few days, so I went in to get it checked. Turns out, it got infected AGAIN and I gotta get a THIRD root canal done on the same tooth. FML
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Top comments
klutzyduck1 24
If a root canal didn't fix the tooth, which literally removes the "root" or nerve ending from the tooth, and didn't stop the pain, removing your teeth might be the only viable option. I am not a dentist though. However, a lot of tooth pain is not actually caused by teeth. While on deployment, the entire right side of my body slammed into a windshield at 30 MPH. I found out when I got home, all the teeth on that side had fractured. All needed crowns, a lot had root canals. I have a small mouth and the pressure from the crowns caused constant pain. Or at least I thought it was the pressure. But my cheekbone apparently also collapsed a little, messing with my sinus passages. This made them more prone to infection. I kept going back to the dentist because of the pain, when really it was a sinus infection. It's really hard to tell the difference. It doesn't help that sometimes it's both. That was $6k worth of work. Sorry for the long response and probably TMI, but it might be helpful to check into the sinus thing, it's more common than I knew.
Vitani_Verci 24
This sounds really weird OP, but have you ever had your sinuses checked up on? I have chronic sinusitis and because of all of the connected nerves, I normally get frequent tooth aches and nerve pain associated with teeth. I thought for a long time it was my teeth, but it's actually due to my sinuses being inflamed. I'm sorry you have found no relief in your pain. :( Try to think of things you wouldn't though! You'd be surprised that one visit to check your sinuses or anything else could help with (presumed) unrelated pain. Good luck!
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Comments (37)
alphafish17 16
It might be time to get a second opinion
mariri9206 32
It's definitely time for a second opinion.
spookyboy 20
Most people pull their hair out when they're frustrated. Maybe your dentist just prefers teeth.
klutzyduck1 24
If a root canal didn't fix the tooth, which literally removes the "root" or nerve ending from the tooth, and didn't stop the pain, removing your teeth might be the only viable option. I am not a dentist though. However, a lot of tooth pain is not actually caused by teeth. While on deployment, the entire right side of my body slammed into a windshield at 30 MPH. I found out when I got home, all the teeth on that side had fractured. All needed crowns, a lot had root canals. I have a small mouth and the pressure from the crowns caused constant pain. Or at least I thought it was the pressure. But my cheekbone apparently also collapsed a little, messing with my sinus passages. This made them more prone to infection. I kept going back to the dentist because of the pain, when really it was a sinus infection. It's really hard to tell the difference. It doesn't help that sometimes it's both. That was $6k worth of work. Sorry for the long response and probably TMI, but it might be helpful to check into the sinus thing, it's more common than I knew.
AccountForStuffs 6
Teeth, especially molars, can have tricky roots. It's sounds like the OPs dentist missed one. If the second root canal was performed because OPs mouth still hurt like hell after the first I bet the dentist missed a tiny branch from a "main" root during the first root canal. If the pain goes away with antibiotics, AND, not chewing on that side, that's a dead give away the dentist buggered up the root canal. While pulling the tooth is a viable option, it's lazy, it also means the dentist doesn't have to admit he/she effed up.
Vitani_Verci 24
This sounds really weird OP, but have you ever had your sinuses checked up on? I have chronic sinusitis and because of all of the connected nerves, I normally get frequent tooth aches and nerve pain associated with teeth. I thought for a long time it was my teeth, but it's actually due to my sinuses being inflamed. I'm sorry you have found no relief in your pain. :( Try to think of things you wouldn't though! You'd be surprised that one visit to check your sinuses or anything else could help with (presumed) unrelated pain. Good luck!
DestinyNiya 33
I agree with the people asking you to check your sinuses. I have the same problem! It feels like a toothache, but it's really just the sinuses. Hope you get well soon!
Uniquestar7 20
I'd recommend you see an ENT. Pain from the ear/sinuses can seem to be coming from the teeth. And see another dentist.
1234as 5
was it actually 2 root canals? some dentists do a root canal treatment in 2 sessions... depending on length of appointment and ease of procedure. root canals are typically approximately 1,000 each. also, had you just taken care of your teeth in the first place, you wouldnt need a root canal (this holds true for 9 out of 10 root canals).
tessas 7
Not true. "Taking care" of your teeth does not prevent a majority of root canals. A majority of root canals are from simply USING your teeth year after year. No amount of brushing, flossing, etc. will prevent them. Genetics (different mouth shape, different hardness of tooth enamel) play a larger part in the equation.
RosaMaravillosa 10
1234, you're an ass.
cherokeespirit 3
Wrong. As a dental hygienist I can tell you almost all root canal procedures are needed because people do not brush and floss, and then they get caries (cavities). They allow the cavities to worsen until the tooth is decayed to the point in which the root of the tooth has to be removed and then a crown is placed over the remaining enamel. The upper molars and premolars sometimes have root systems that penetrate into the sinus cavities, and like some posters have stated, tooth pain can actually be issues related more to the sinus cavity rather than the actual teeth. However, even after root canals, teeth can experience "phantom pain" that is caused by surrounding nervous tissue and not necessarily those of the teeth in which the endodontic procedure was performed on
manofmerr 27
@21, wear a mask. I can tell from the thumb prints that people with stupidia were here. As for the op, other people have said the long and short of what i would've, so instead im going to thank you for teaching me that smurf shit can be used as a curse.
LyricaSilvan 30
While I am deeply sorry for your suffering, (I can only imagine how much pain the root canals caused,) I feel the need to admit that I can't stop laughing at your use of the term "smurf-shit."
sarcasmismyno1 22
I had tooth pain for years, until I increased my calcium intake. Even my dentist can't explain why it works but it's a night and day difference. It may not be the same fix for you, but I hope these comments will help you find an alternative treatment that helps you. There's a lot of non surgical options out there. Our bodies work in mysterious ways.
Uniquestar7 20
Placebo?
Razell 13
Not necessarily. Mineral deficiency can result in aches and pains. If calcium supplements fixed the problem, it was likely muscle pain manifesting in the teeth (which yes, can happen because nerves are strange things). OP might also try magnesium supplements. OP might also look into therapeutic massage for the face and shoulders. A surprising amount of my mouth and jaw pain (which one would expect to be caused by teeth) over the years has actually been excessive tension and/or nerve impingement in my neck and shoulders.
SaraWinterHeart 15
This doesn't sound like a dentist, sounds like an imposter. Dentists only pull teeth out if those teeth aren't viable enough to fixed any other way... If I were you, I would go to another dentist, but first exhaust other options that could be causing the pain, because, as the women have stated in this thread, sinus problems do cause pain in your teeth, and I know this from personal experience, and also, I have had my entire top teeth removed and replaced with dentures because they were destroyed by the many medications I was placed on by my doctor, so trust me, do more research on the pain, because you don't want to end up like me: 32 years old and have to put my teeth in just to eat. :( Good luck.