Kind of strange dental question - not looking for expert advice, just experience.

[smirkymonkey]

I may have mentioned that I have been having some dental issues lately. A broken tooth, which I went in and had repaired w/ a bond, an abscess, a consult for a root canal, etc.

Anyway, since I have gone into this new dentist, I suddenly feel like I have vampire teeth digging into my tongue and it is very irritating and painful. I think it's mainly the canine teeth, but also the molars and I don't really know what to do with my tongue, because anywhere I put it, it hurts.

I can't imagine that I all of a sudden grew very sharp vampire teeth over the course of a few days, so I am wondering if any of you have ever had this experience after a dental visit and if it's something that just goes away after a little while. I suspect it has something to do with damage or irritation that was done to my tongue during one of the procedures that just hasn't healed yet, but I tried to Google it and couldn't really find a good explanation.

I am going back again next Thursday (they are closed today through the weekend), but I am afraid they are going to try sell me on some other procedure to "get rid of the problem". Just wondering if any of you have experienced this before. Thanks in advance for your stories!

[msongs]

1. did they test the surface of the newly worked tooth for bite clearance? with that purple paper

stuff?

[badhair77]

2. I agree with this suggestion.

If they try to sell you other options tell them you have to think about it and get a second opinion if that would make you feel better. Hope you’re improving as the weekend progresses.

[smirkymonkey]

7. Thank you, bad hair!

BTW, I love your name!

Actually, my BIL is a dentist w/ his own practice up in Maine (I live in Boston), but they are on a ski vacation in Montana for two weeks and I don't want to bother him with my questions right now, however I will ask him when they get back. It's just stressing me out too much to try to figure out whether or not I am getting screwed over.

I am thinking of just taking a few days off and going up to him anyway since I would trust him more and I know he would tell me the truth. I don't like the idea of taking advantage of family connections, since I know he would give me a big discount or better but my insurance company would pay him and I would make up most of the rest. I would have to wait a few more weeks, but it might be worth it to see someone trustworthy and honest.

I just really don't trust these people. Thanks for your advice!

[North Shore Chicago]

11. Oh please

take advantage of family connections!

If you have trust, you will do better all around.

Good luck!

[enough]

4. Yes, get the bite looked at. Not high tech and it is standard after having work done.

This may or may not be the solution, but it’s the obvious first step. It’s amazing how much a tiny bite correction can make.

[smirkymonkey]

6. No, I have never heard of that.

But I didn't have an issue before I went in, and I do now. Just kind of strange.

[TexasLefty29]

3. Anecdotally

I can tell you I had a sort of similar experience at a dentist recently, where the whole arcade (section) of my mouth where the work was done felt sandy and gritty against my tongue for like two weeks... debris from the drilling wouldn’t even come away with mouthwash it seemed, but it turned out the surrounding teeth had been shaved on as well, making the weird texture. Don’t know what tools they put in your pie hole, but it could be some uneven work of bond leftover ... even half a millimeter makes a difference

[smirkymonkey]

8. Hmm. It was hard to tell since my mouth was so filled up with novocaine.

I kind of didn't even know what was really going on at the time. I was numb for a while afterward.

How are you doing, TexasLefty? Were you very affected by the storm, cold and power outage? I hope you are doing ok. I am so sorry for what you are all going through. Take care!

[moniss]

5. I'll try

to help. I am not a dentist but I have had so much work done over the many years that I could play one on TV. First of all you can rule out your teeth having sharp edges by just running your finger or thumb along the bite surface. If you feel something sharp then try to look in the mirror and see which tooth it is so you can point it out to the dentist. You didn't say whether this is happening when you chew. That makes a difference because you also didn't say whether you have an under-bite or over-bite issue that could come into play. When you had this work done did they give you a shot under your tongue or next to your tongue? Those can be nasty and take a few days to feel better. Sometimes when you have work done on several teeth in a short time or same day your teeth will be moving/settling into a "normal" alignment and so you may bite down slightly different for a few days. This can result in you biting your cheek etc. or tongue.
As far as the dentist doing something that hurt your tongue that would really only happen if your tongue got zapped by the drill or one of the sharp instruments. Sometimes if you gag/swallow while they're working your tongue can suddenly get in the "line of fire". Usually once the numbing agent wears off it feels kind of like a sore or a paper cut sort of thing. Along that line of inquiry it is important to note as a word of caution to everyone that after having some work done it is best to be careful about eating until the numbness goes away. You can be chewing a burger and chomp your tongue between your molars and not even really feel it. Until the numbness goes and then you feel like your tongue is hurting. I recommend just something you really don't have to chew much or tear a hunk off until you're back to normal. Over the years I've bitten my lips, cheeks and tongue on more than one occasion because sometimes I'll push the issue.
If you really feel a sharp edge or point on your teeth and feel it may be the culprit then your dentist can check your bite having you tap your teeth together while he has a "slip" (for lack of the proper technical description) between your teeth. This will show him highs and lows and possible sharp points. If there is a minor sharpness here or there they can just do a very light grind of that area and you don't even need a shot. Usually a cheap procedure. I hope this helps. Like I said first determine if the teeth are actually sharp etc. If not then it is your tongue sensation or may be one of the other items I mentioned. I would recommend you tell him so that he is aware you don't feel right and he can examine your tongue for any problems. In any event even if you did munch your tongue, get nailed by the drill etc. you should be back to OK within a couple of weeks at most.

[smirkymonkey]

9. Thank you, moniss!

And a belated welcome to DU!

I did not have a drill, I don't think. Only novocaine, but maybe I did. I was kind of out of it to be honest. All I can say is that things have not quite been right since I started going there. I do not have an overbite nor an underbite. My dental health has been pretty much ideal all my life, but I have to admit, I have neglected it the past few years out of laziness and cheapness and it was a big mistake.

I thought I could get away with it. I was always lucky.

But seriously, when I took care of my teeth and went to the dentist faithfully every six months, I never had a problem, ever. It's not about luck, it's pure common sense. Take care of your teeth and you won't have problems. Neglect them, and you will. Very simple.

Only since I have been in Boston, where I have been "too busy" and preoccupied to take care of my dental health have I found that sooner or later, you will pay for it if you don't attend to them regularly. You only get one set of original teeth. Once they are gone, that's it. Implants are insanely expensive, and you don't want to end up paying for that. Fortunately, I am not that far gone yet.

Thank you so much for your kind input and advice! Very helpful!

[moniss]

10. You

are most welcome for the kind words and I hope the situation resolves without too much more discomfort or expense.

[wnylib]

12. Please update us when you do find out

what the problem is. It's got me curious, and probably others, too.

I agree with you that it sounds like the problem is related to recent work since you did not have it before then.