AboutSteven C. Scherr, D.D.S. Expertise Comprehensive Dentistry, TMJ Dysfunction Therapy, and Cosmetic Dentistry. Nineteen years of experience including hospital residency (Sinai Hospital of Baltimore), and training at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Currently in private rehabilitative practice.
Experience I was the Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland Dental School in 1981. I served as a General Practice Resident at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 1981-82, and have been in private dental practice since that time. My practice is now located in Owings Mills, MD, a suburb of Baltimore. My studies at The L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education in Florida has enriched my practice and my patients. It was there that I learned the true meaning of excellence.
Question first dr said inner ear infection and facial nuralgia, next dr said TMI the pain is primarirly in my 2 bottom mollars at the rear of my mouth both filled extensively, and the 2 upper molars also filled extensively and one is cracked.....could this be the problem....instead of nerve problems.....it comes and goes and makes me want to bite down...like the feeling after teeth were worked on and novacaine.....don't want to take neuro drugs if i dont'have too.....vicoden does not help.....
thanks
Answer Renee,
I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. Facial pain can result from a number of distinct problems. Certainly, the possibility of a dental problem should be considered. Each tooth has an inner pulp. The pulp consists of nerves and blood vessels. Each time we chew, chase hot coffee with ice water, grind or clench our teeth, develop decay, crack a tooth, or have a filling placed, a little of the pulp's healing ability is used up. Once the healing ability of a pulp becomes exhausted, the pulp will die. Tooth pain is part of the body's way of trying to heal. If one or more tooth pulp becomes irreversibly damaged, the damaged nerve will need to be removed with root canal therapy in order to save the tooth.
I am not sure if the doctors you have seen are physicians or dentists. If you have not yet seen a dentist about the facial pain, this would be a great place to begin. However, if no dental source of the pain is found, other possibilities should be considered. These include nerve pain (neuralgia), neurovascular pain (migraine), vascular pain (arteritis), jaw muscle cramps (myofascial pain, myalgia), jaw joint pain (TMJ dysfunction), and rarely tumors.
