dentist and tooth issues

Hello everyone,

Sorry I havent been on here too much lately. My wonderful seven year old daughter slipped getting into the van on halloween night and fractured her knee so I have been busy taking care of her. She's on crutches and may need to see an othro surgeon soon. I'm hoping that this doesnt cause a life time of knee pain for her, she's too young to have chronic pain.

But anyways, I have an issue....well actually I have alot of "issues" but this is a big one for me right now....For hte past few days I have a tooth on my upper top right that has been killing me. But I dont want to go to my dentist cause the last few times I had teeth work done with them, they didnt numb me up all the wayand didnt care that I was complaining of pain and crying. I could feel all the drilling and it was complete torchure. But this place is a huge practice that is one of the only places nearby that takes medicaid and I think because they dont make much money they try to save money on not doing things right like not using enough numbing medication. I even remember once this lady helping to work on my teeth about a year ago was complaining of how she was hungover from drinking all night....

So now I'm scared to death to get this pain checked on. I've been making sure I brush and floss after every meal and drink, paying specail attention to that tooth and using an antiseptic wash and taking ibprofen for the pain. But I dont know if this will actually heal whatever is going on. I have too much anxiety just thinking aobut calling back up this dentist office, I dont think I can let them do anymore work on my teeth. What would you guys do?? Do you guys know any other thing I can do to try and help the pain at home?? And home remedies? I've heard about clove oil, where would I purchase something like that at?

Also whatever this dentist did to my teeth in the past has made my teeth so sensitive that I cant eat anything cold anymore, and I cant chew on my right side at all for the past 2 years. So I'm pretty sure they've done some nerve damage on that side, and when I asked them about it, they said it was normal and all I got done was some fillings. I really hate having medcaid sometimes, I feel it gives these medical perfessionals a reason to give us less care cause they know they wont get paid what they need to give us the right care.

Also there is one other dentist office that I know that takes medcaid nearby but i had a friend go to him a few onths ago and they actually numbed up the wrong side of his mouth, so I think oging there wouldnt be a good idea either. But I would love to be able to eat again, just talking hurts that tooth.

Well thank you for listening to me rant, I hope evryone is having a low pain day, I'm gonna go lay back down and take a short nap before my kids come home from school in 2 hours.

-Carmen

Teeth don't heal on their own but tooth pain is not always caused by a bad tooth. If a filling is just a tiny bit too high, it can throw off your bite and make either that tooth, the one below it, or even the whole side of your mouth hurt. If the tooth is decayed, it will only get worse and cause you more problems. Sinus problems can cause tooth pain and lead to root canals and extractions of perfectly healthy teeth.

Get a list of all the dentists that take your insurance. You may find a decent one but you may have to drive a bit (or a lot) out of your way. Don't continue going to this dentist, you don't need the anxiety and they may be messing up your mouth. You still may be better off with the one that numbed the wrong side. If worst comes to worst, check if you can see them for a second opinion. They may see something, or tell you something, your current dentist won't.

I went to a medicaid dentist when I was a child and he didn't numb me up enough either. When I complained, he grabbed both of my cheeks and told me to shut up. My mom didn't believe me at first but later, when my sister told the same story, she finally stopped taking us to him. A few years later he lost his license after being convicted of medicaid fraud. One of the complaints was that he charged for numbing meds that he didn't give.

Be careful if you choose to pay for a second opinion. I know it used to be against the rules and you could lose your insurance. I don't know if that policy has changed or if it was just specific to my state.

I hope your daughter heals quickly and well. I HATE tooth pain and going to the dentist. Even with my expensive dental insurance, I can't afford to get my teeth fixed. Good luck to you, I hope you find out what is causing your pain and can get it fixed fast.

Carmen,
The only thing that I can think of that might help a little would be the orajel stuff or the numbing meds they rub on babies gums when they are teething. I could work if you'd rub it on the gum above the tooth that hurts. That's the only thing I can think of or yea and whisky, rub it on the gum too...it is supposed to help too....I wouldn't be able to stand the taste of the whisky, so I'd go for the baby stuff. Good luck.

Cathy