New to braces with question about pain...

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#1 Post by **invisibleowl** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:29 pm

I am new to braces, just got mine on Monday, the 22nd of March. It was really painful the 2nd day, but it is slowly getting better. It is a good thing I like mashed potatoes so much! However, now I am getting worried about something.

The Thursday before my braces went on I had 2 cavities filled. The dentist told me that the cavity in my premolar was deeper than he thought, and was close to the pulp of the tooth. He said that if I had any pain in the next couple of days to come back immediately. Happily, I was fine, with no pain at all, so Monday on went the braces. But now, that tooth really hurts, since Wednesday night. There is a slight nagging pain at the gumline (which might be from my incessant poking at it, I admit) and the tooth is incredibly sensitive to pressure, more so than my other teeth, although it doesn't really hurt if I don't touch it.

I have no clue if it is normal to have one tooth reaaallly sensitive or not when you are in braces, and I have never had an infection of the pulp in my teeth (people get root canals for that) so I don't know if the pain would be worse, or different in that case. Is there some kind of thing I can judge by to know if it is normal braces pain, or not? I really don't want to go back to the dentist!

I keep consoling myself with the thought that if it was an infection of the pulp, it would have appeared right after the filling, but I really have no idea if that is true.

Any info would be appreciated!

#2 Post by **fluffybottom** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 3:50 pm

Sometimes, a single tooth will be really sensitive for a while. I mean, even now late into my treatment, every once in a while I'll have a tooth that just bugs me for a few days.

However, since you have this issue with your cavity, I would suggest calling the dentist and explaining the pain to him. He might have you come in, he might be able to tell from what you describe that it is just the braces. He's really the only one who can concretely answer this question for you.

#3 Post by **nuttynat** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 4:06 pm

It is not unusual for one tooth to be tender & sensitive every now and again. Maybe you could wait it out for a few more days and if the pain doesn't go away, then go back to your dentist?

#4 Post by **fosterp** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 5:26 pm

sensitive to pressure is normal with braces, but if you have a constant throbbing toothache that you can pinpoint on that tooth, or its really sensitive to hot, could be a sign your due for a root canal

agree with others above, throughout treatment you will have certain teeth just become really sensitive randomly and others that never feel any different, just part of teh process

#5 Post by **loradora** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:25 pm

I had a front tooth extracted the day before I got my braces (3/17) and had alot of sensitivity in that area and on a tooth towards the back and also wondered if there was a problem. It feels fine now. I would think you'd feel some serious pain if you had an infection, but a phone call to the dentist might put your mind at ease.

#6 Post by **invisibleowl** » Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:12 pm

Thanks for all your replies! You guys are so fast!

As the tooth doesn't really hurt unless I press on it I think I will wait and see what happens. The orthodontist put these things on my teeth to stop my mouth from closing all the way so that I don't bite off the lower brackets (I have an overbite) and I think they might also be causing the problem. They make me bite funny, and I might be biting down harder on the problematic tooth then others, which would make it sensitive. This had never occurred to me until I read it on here somewhere.

I am hoping for the best, as root canals scare the hell out of me (which is highly ironic, because the jaw surgery I am going to have doesn't bother me half as much!).

#7 Post by **heather2** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:08 pm

I think it's perfectly normal for one tooth to ache now and then. I have had the same experience and when I went to the dentist for my cleaning, there was no signs of any decay. It will stop in a few days. I am biting down on a lot of my lower brackets and that makes things ache too.

#8 Post by **jambo532** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:14 pm

I think you should be ok. I had pain for only a couple days when I first got mine on. But I still feel pain in random teeth on random days. One day it's the top left the next it's the bottom right. Ortho said it's just movement.
www.allbraced.blogspot.com

#9 Post by **blindboarder2008** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 5:26 pm

just keep an eye on it for the next few days and see if it gets any worse, if it does call your dentist immediately, its not uncommon that there would be sensitivity in one tooth. I was a victim of one tooth sensitivity a few times throughout my treatment. Give it a few days!

#10 Post by **braceface418** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 6:22 pm

If there was a lot of drilling and whatnot going on with the tooth that was filled, the ligaments holding it in place may be slightly irritated and, I would imagine, having braces just makes it worse. My dentist and endodontist have gone as long as waiting six weeks to see if I'd need a root canal (assuming, of course, that I'm not in absolutely awful, persistent pain), so you could safely give it a few weeks to see if it improves.

But, as others have said, if it is just pressure that causes pain, the tooth pulp itself is probably fine.