The tooth that was giving me trouble was the #19 molar, which is the first molar on my bottom left. There is the canine tooth, then two premolars, and the next one going back is the #19 tooth or first molar.
My dentist did believe he could save the tooth by doing a root canal, but I was just as the point of wanting to get rid of this tooth once and for all. This was definitely a tooth I had come to hate. That is isn't going to save me from having a root canal. I was told after a brief examination that I should have two root canals performed on two other teeth. I believe I will follow through on having them done since I have no desire to experience the pain I had for the past year or so. I estimate the tooth I had extracted flared up 7 times. Sometimes the abscess would come and go easily. This last time the agony lasted 5 days. I decided this would be the last time.
This time the pain was excruciating. I couldn't think, couldn't sleep, couldn't eat. All I could do was think and feel pain. On the fourth day I thought I was out of the woods. The abscess was drained and nearly gone and I had no more pain. Then wham! I got a sharp, intense pain. The pain ran along my jaw and felt like it was going into my ear and eye socket. I felt like I should just cut my head off. I figured that wasn't really a good option.
Motrin did nothing for the pain. It continued. I had an ice pack and that seemed to help a little. Then I had an idea, try ice water. I took a swig of ice water and rinse it around. Amazing! Instant relief. However, once the water got warm in the mouth. I had to spit it out and take in some new water. I continued doing this from 2:30 p.m. until the next moring at 9:30 a.m.. That's right, no sleep but yet no pain. I did get to sleep about an hour before going to the dentist. Im sure I didn't look well, I know I didn't feel well.
So, I had the tooth extracted. No pain. My face and mouth were very numb due to the Novocaine, which eventually wore off. I had no problem being numb, it was much better than the past five days. I had some slight pain that night around 8 o'clock, but it was minor so I used Motrin. The extraction site is healing nicely now, five days later, so that is good. I never had dry socket and had two previous extractions with no problems, yet I was a little worried thinking "it could be happen".
I didn't fool around though. After reading about dry socket, I decided I would get clove oil
, which is great for tooth pain caused by nerve or pulp damage. When they pull the tooth, blood should pull in the socket and the healing process should start. What sometimes happens is the blood clot gets dislodged and then you can have the dreadful experience of "dry socket". This pain is caused from the jaw bone and nerves being exposed to air, food, liquirds, etc. and this causes pain. If you have dry socket, the area will in time still heal on its own. You will need to do something about the pain. It is a good idea to go back to your dentist where he will then clean the site and administer a "medicated" packing to get rid of the pain. However, you can get clove oil yourself and put it into the site yourself by using an eyedropper or administering syringe to squirt the clove oil into the socket. It doesn't taste great and may give a slight burning sensation to other areas if you spill it. Just put it on the socket area.The alternative is to suffer for 5 or 6 days, which I don't think you would want to do. Anyway, I just so thankful that I am no longer in pain and can sleep well again. Toothaches and abscesses suck!
