Migraine

I went in a week ago for my 6 month dental cleaning. They found a cavity (my second one ever - ugh). My wisdom tooth had a hole Well, went to have it filled yesterday and found out that hole was insanely deep. It was barely away from the nerve root .... so.... The dentist put a temporary filling in.

We don't know if bacteria made it to the root or not. Have to say it hurts today but I think that is from the PM bruxism and change in bite - will get them to work on that next week. But, that still leaves me with a LARGE possibility of needing further work. I was given 2 options: 1. pull that wisdom tooth (would be the first out and all the other 3 are staying put) or getting a root canal.

Because my headaches are strongly influenced by my TMJ I want to take the path that will be the least of a trigger. Will only pulling 1/4 make my TMJ/HA worse? Would a root canal be better? If I am having 1/4 pulled should the other 3 go as well? My dentist thinks that pulling the 1 would not make headaches worse, but, want to be sure so seeking out as much info as I can find. Thanks!!!

Edited by moderator: Please break your posts into smaller paragraphs to make them easier to read. Thanks!

I'm not a dentist, but when my wisdom teeth started giving me problems in my late teens, all but one was a problem, so they took all 4 out. If your dentist does not feel the others are problems, leave them alone, espeically if you trust your dentist and the others are not causing you any pain or bit problems.

I recently had a crown put in. Lots of filing down of the tooth, which I dislike and makes me very tense. My dentist made sure if anything remotely started to hurt, I got more numbing stuff. Also if the light is a problem for you consider using one of those sleep masks to cover your eyes during the procedure. I did not have to do that as I found the angle of the light was ok and did not bother me. My dentist also has flowers and bird feeders outside his windows that I focused on. It helped alot.

Good luck. I would rather go to the GYN than the dentist. Sad I know!!

Cindy

Does your dentist have a recommendation about pulling vs root canal?

I only had lower wisdom teeth, but they were both impacted and had no chance of ever erupting. I wasn't having any acute trouble, but I had them out anyway, when I was 22. My DS had all four out. All 4 were impacted, and he had the beginnings of pus pockets around a couple of them.

I have PM bruxism, too. I wear a soft plastic night guard over my lower teeth. My dentist takes an impression and makes it for me. It helps a lot. I've been wearing one for years. It helps eliminate some of the pain in my temples. I have to replace it every year or so; I chomp so hard that the "give" in the plastic gives out.

Gret
Gretchen in Mississippi

I wish there was an easy answer for you, but there isn't. Dental work, either way may trigger a Migraine for some people. Pulling problem teeth may help reduce that trigger for some people, but there is really no certainty either way.

Good luck

The dentist said that pulling was cheaper and that it shouldn't cause more problems and it helps some people with HA. The issue is that pulling worses TMJ in some. I have a hard plastic bite guard. Have you liked the soft plastic better? Or is it the only one you have had. I had one dentist who made a huge, thick one that was precisely aligned every few months but was a monster and not pretty and this one that is pretty but only aligned on occasion - not sure was seems better than the other between those 2.

I am going to call the dentist that made the first and ask him my quandary as he specializes in TMJ and chronic HA. It has been YEARS since I have been there though so not sure he will have a vote one way or the other. Also will call my newest specialist who is a radiologist... odd professional for a specialist in HA but hey - take what I get - his bedside manner is 40 billion times better than the DO neuro I have who knows his meds but that is all I would say.

I also use a hard plastic mouthguard. Its purpose is to protect my teeth. I have a co-worker who got a mouthguard for the express purpose of preventing jaw-clenching from triggering migraines, and she has a soft plastic one. The hard one is the only one I've had.

I didn't have my wisdom teeth out until about five years ago. Supposedly, they were never going to come in. But one did, partially. And the others had all shifted to the point of impaction, even though I wasn't having a bit of trouble with any of them, or so I thought. Once they were pulled, though, I had an immediate reduction in number and severity of my migraines. Apparently, those impacted teeth were up against nerves, and were triggering me. So...having it pulled could just do some good, though I don't have TMJ, and I don't know anything about having it pulled exacerbating that.

I am a registered dental assistant and have some suggestions for you. Depending on how the other 3 wisdom teeth are situated in your jaw it may be fine to leave them without pulling them. I am now working in a general dental office and I have also worked in a oral surgery office so I have also seen that as the older you get it is much harder to recover if you do need to get the other wisdom teeth out later.
General anesthesia may be an option(as long as there are no health risks)-it also tends to be more costlier. Your jaw will probably be sore for about a week or more after the surgery and you will have some limited opening-which is normal. I would recommend seeing if you could have a consult with the oral surgeon to go see what his recommendations would be.
I can tell you right now that root canal would not be a fun one. Your TMJ would be very sore. Your mouth has to stay open for a long period of time because saliva can't get into the canal once the tooth has been opened up-because it can't be contaminated. I know that when we do root canals on patients in our office, that is the hardest thing for them-the staying open and not being able to close.
I hope this helps, and gives you a general idea of what to ask or a next step to do.

Sorry I'm so late responding.

The soft plastic mouthguard is the only type I've had. It's a lot like the ones you buy at the store and dip in hot water and then fit them yourself. They were not successful for me.

I can talk with this mouthguard, and it doesn't make my face look too terribly wonky. I've worn it around if I'm having a clench-y day. It seems to help.

I've got a new guard waiting for me at my dentist's office. But it's 3 suburbs over. I've just got to hitch up my britches and burn the gas. And hold my breath driving the bypass with all the crazy drivers.

Gret

I had all 4 wisdom teeth out when I was 22. I went under gen. anesthesia. Woke up when oral surgeon was on 3rd tooth, which was giving him fits, as root had wrapped around nerve (lower right jaw).

We were both happy campers 2 weeks later to discover no nerve damage!

I lived on dilaudid and fudgesicles for 5 days. Mama hid my dilaudids & made me go back to work on the Wed. after the Fri. surgery.

How I drove to work, I'll never know! I looked like I had softballs for cheeks. My boss was amazed I was there (in fetal position in a chair.)

Facing that pain without good pain management is like facing a migraine without proper management. It can be done, but you wish on all your stars you hadn't!

Rebecca