In 2006, I had my second bottom left molar crowned. My only symptom at the time was pain upon biting. My dentist sent me to an Endodontist who took X-rays and performed testing on the tooth. The X-ray showed a widened PDL space but nothing else so the Endodontist advised my dentist to crown the tooth which she did (gold crown).
I’ve had some level of pain on biting since the tooth was crowned but the pain always went away once I had my teeth scaled and cleaned (every 6 months without fail). The tooth is good / pain free for a good
5 1/2 months afterwards and then acts up again only to go away after scaling.
Fast forward to October 2018 and the biting pain is back again but this time the pain didn’t go away after my cleaning/scaling. I started having a dull ache in my jaw that radiated up to my ear with sensitivity to cold and sometimes to sweet and hot. In November 2018, my dentist sent me to the same Endodontist who I saw in 2006. He tested the tooth, took a new X-ray and compared it to the X-ray from 2006. He noted that while the PDL space had widened slightly more compared to the 2006 X-ray, there was nothing he could see that required a root canal. He suggested that I get a new custom nightguard. He also noted some gum recession on that crowned tooth. As an FYI, I’m a clencher and grinder and have worn a custom nightguard (lower) since 2006.
I got a new custom nightguard in February 2019 - Thermoplex material - but I still had the jaw and ear ache. Went back to the dentist last week who adjusted my crown, adjusted my nightguard and also applied de-sensitizing material to the gum line of the crowned tooth as well as all the other teeth on the bottom left. The sensitivity to cold, sweet, hot has abated quite a bit and the biting pain has also lessened but it’s still there to some degree as is the jaw and ear pain (I also get a crunching sound in that left jaw joint when I open and close my mouth).
My dentist is sending me back to the Endodontist because she’s at a loss as to what’s going on. She took another X-ray and again, other than a widened PDL space, there’s nothing new. I’ve had no signs of infection or abscess or gum swelling of any kind during these past few months. The pain/ache I feel does not wake me up at night....I’m able to sleep through the night no problem. But....my ache starts upon waking.
Could I have a sprained tooth? Could a widened PDL space and receding gums be the cause of what I’m experiencing (considering symptoms have slightly improved)? Is this an occlusal issue? Could menopause be causing increased thermal sensitivity? Do I need a different kind of nightguard, maybe an upper as opposed to a lower? Do I need a RC? I don’t want to get a RC unless it’s absolutely necessary, especially if it won’t take away the ache. I’m in tears most days as I’m frustrated because of this.
Sorry for the long-winded post....I wanted to provide as much background information as possible. I appreciate any and all comments / suggestions. I feel like I’m truly at my wits end.
I’ve had some level of pain on biting since the tooth was crowned but the pain always went away once I had my teeth scaled and cleaned (every 6 months without fail). The tooth is good / pain free for a good
5 1/2 months afterwards and then acts up again only to go away after scaling.
Fast forward to October 2018 and the biting pain is back again but this time the pain didn’t go away after my cleaning/scaling. I started having a dull ache in my jaw that radiated up to my ear with sensitivity to cold and sometimes to sweet and hot. In November 2018, my dentist sent me to the same Endodontist who I saw in 2006. He tested the tooth, took a new X-ray and compared it to the X-ray from 2006. He noted that while the PDL space had widened slightly more compared to the 2006 X-ray, there was nothing he could see that required a root canal. He suggested that I get a new custom nightguard. He also noted some gum recession on that crowned tooth. As an FYI, I’m a clencher and grinder and have worn a custom nightguard (lower) since 2006.
I got a new custom nightguard in February 2019 - Thermoplex material - but I still had the jaw and ear ache. Went back to the dentist last week who adjusted my crown, adjusted my nightguard and also applied de-sensitizing material to the gum line of the crowned tooth as well as all the other teeth on the bottom left. The sensitivity to cold, sweet, hot has abated quite a bit and the biting pain has also lessened but it’s still there to some degree as is the jaw and ear pain (I also get a crunching sound in that left jaw joint when I open and close my mouth).
My dentist is sending me back to the Endodontist because she’s at a loss as to what’s going on. She took another X-ray and again, other than a widened PDL space, there’s nothing new. I’ve had no signs of infection or abscess or gum swelling of any kind during these past few months. The pain/ache I feel does not wake me up at night....I’m able to sleep through the night no problem. But....my ache starts upon waking.
Could I have a sprained tooth? Could a widened PDL space and receding gums be the cause of what I’m experiencing (considering symptoms have slightly improved)? Is this an occlusal issue? Could menopause be causing increased thermal sensitivity? Do I need a different kind of nightguard, maybe an upper as opposed to a lower? Do I need a RC? I don’t want to get a RC unless it’s absolutely necessary, especially if it won’t take away the ache. I’m in tears most days as I’m frustrated because of this.
Sorry for the long-winded post....I wanted to provide as much background information as possible. I appreciate any and all comments / suggestions. I feel like I’m truly at my wits end.
Last edited:
