Temporary crown is KILLING me - someone shoot me, please!

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

I had a temporary crown put on an upper tooth last week, and it's absolutely killing me. I have to endure it for two more weeks before getting the permanent one placed (and hope the pain won't continue past that procedure). I've been taking Tylenol about twice daily and using Orajel 2-3 times a day, which helps for a time, but then the pain returns. Anyone have any other ideas? I really want to stick it out and not have to go back to the dentist before the permanent crown is ready, but this is really hurting me. ARRRGGGGHHHHH!!

[Skittles]

1. something isn't right - call your dentist

it's not seated correctly; I've had many temps and they never hurt.

[MissB]

6. Ditto on the calling immediately

I have had temps and I recall one that did hurt. They aren't supposed to.

[goclark]

2. Sounds like an infection or misfit to me

Call your dentist asap

[MikeG]

3. When I got a root canal, the dentist prescribed some Percocet for the pain

Ask for it if you can.

[agingdem]

4. Abscessed tooth?

Why do you need a crown? Did you have a root canal?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

10. No, no root canal

My teeth are full of fillings from childhood. The dentist told me this weakens teeth, and I've broken 3 teeth in the past 13 years, requiring 3 crowns. He had a terrible time drilling out the filling in the tooth requiring the crown because it's the farthest back maxillary molar; I don't have a very big mouth, and it hurt a lot holding my mouth open for so long. It seems like it's at a bit of an odd angle, but I just assumed that was because it was in a tricky position.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I have an eye appointment tomorrow and really don't want to have to take off any more work, but something may have to be done if this doesn't start feeling better.

[AlCzervik]

15. Does the side of your body hurt

like your neck and shoulder on the same side where the tooth is? If so you most likely have an infection and your dentist should prscribe some antibiotics for it, he should be able to call it in without you having to go back.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. I just had a lovely dental experience...

I had a toothache, but a really weird one. The toothe did not hurt, but everything else did. But boy, it hurt bad. I am just as poor as poor can be, and there are no free or reduced-payment dental clinics around here, so I had to tough it out.

Well, tonight I pulled something out of my gum: a piece of tooth from an extraction I had 30 years ago. Goddamn dentist left some in all that time ago and I finally rejected it.

It feels good to not hurt.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

11. You poor thing!

I'm really happy it came out on its own, FINALLY!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. See your dentist ASAP

It sounds like an infection. Sometimes having crown work done can irritate things and cause a secondary infection. The temp crown would not cause pain like you've described.

Feel better!

[Dookus]

8. ditto what everybody else said

there's no reason why a temporary crown should hurt. Something's wrong.

[DS1]

9. You got any gold in that crown, boi?

:evilgrin:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

13. Nope!

There ain't gold in them thar crowns!

[SheilaT]

12. Same thing happened to me

years back with a temporary crown. Turned out a little air was caught underneath. Dentist popped it off, put it back on and voila! The pain was instantly gone.

CALL YOUR DENTIST. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ENDURE THIS.

[dflprincess]

14. Ibruprofen (advil) works better on tooth pain

I have no idea why but my dentist advised me of that. Also, 4 OTC Advil = prescription strength. (My friend went into emergency one night and the nurse on duty told her to save her money and advised her of the OTC dose to take because all they'd do in the ER for a sore tooth was give her ibruprofen (sp).)

And, call your dentist immediately. I've had several crowns and, while I don't like the temporaries, they've never caused any pain. You may have an abcess.

[Mika]

16. 4 weeks of pain is far too long!!

You should get into your dentist to take care of this before any more damage is done. It might be a reaction to the material in your temp. If your dentist is a decent human being she/he will be happy that you didn't live with the defect/reaction/infection. Perhaps your dentist's lab fabricated the crown early and it may be ready for insertion already - and since you are going to get the temp popped off for a look-see.. no harm in checking. there could be harm done by not having it checked.

I say this with the experience of a dental practitioner.

[traco]

17. Use a shot of Scotch

like it was mouth wash, then swallow. Repeat as necessary. When you fall into bed and pass out, your pain should quit.

Truthfully, scotch will numb toothache pain!

[JSJ]

18. if there's itching, get thee to the dentist, now!