Hi Jerry and all,

I've had jaw aches for a while, well years! (after effects from the radio and surgery I'm sure), and also a suspect back molar which my dentist thinks I may need a root canal. Well, after putting up with aches in the jaw and parotid for ages I rang my dentist yesterday (Thursday down here) and booked to see him, to check things out.

As luck would have it, it is a long weekend coming up, then he teaches at the Dental Hospital on Tuesday, so I can't see him till next Wednesday, and of course the back molar flared up last night (perhaps in fear? ) I fear the worst, as when I've things like this before I've had the tooth removed. But having had radio I assume I can't have it removed because of the risk of ORN? I have a partial and that tooth is my last "anchor" on that side.

Any ideas - I worry with the throbbing, as that sort of implies that it's too late to save the tooth with root canal therapy.

I've written to my dentist, hoping he'll read emails while on holiday. If not, I think I'll have to find another alternative, get strong painkillers and maybe antibiotics. It's awkward finding dentist who have dealt with our type of problems.

Cheers!

Meredith

Meredith,

I sent you an email.

Jerry

Wow I had all my teeth removed way before oral cancer showed up...and I have phantom pains still and since my oc surgery it feels like I have tooth aches...I had all my teeth removed to avoid people working in my mouth funny eh...and I could not handle the pain the teeth caused...my thoughts are with you and wish youthe best of luck Dealing with dentists can be difficult...

Dianne

Hi Merrie,
Thanks for your email yesterday. Will respond later today.
Sorry to hear that you are having so much trouble with your teeth. Is there no emergency service when he is away. Can you go to the dental hospital? Presume that it is the one near central railway station.
Did a goole search with the following
emergency dental sydney.
Looks like a few options including this one http://www.emergencydental.com.au/ which even has a section on oral-cancer http://www.emergencydental.com.au/oral-cancer.htm
Murphies Law again happening just before a long weekend.
Hope you are able to find some help.
Gabriele

Hi peoples,

Thanks to all, and after much calling around I managed to find a dentist not too far away from me in Manly (near that nice restaurant Jerry!). I'm on antibiotics and painkillers until I see my regular guy next week. Looks like another root canal (upper back molar), yuk!

Cheers!

Tizz

Good morning Merrie,
Am enjoying the rain after that out of season hot day yesterday.
Hopefully the painkillers will get you through the long weekend and until your appointment. Best of luck for next week.
Gabriele

Tizz,

Happy to hear that you got the meds and I hope the antibiotic has kicked in by now. I guess that the dentists in OZ don't have emergency phone numbers for their patients. We do here. I've gone in for many emergencies during my career.

I often think of that lovely dinner we had in Manly and how great it was meeting you guys there.

Good luck next week.

Jerry

Tizz,
In my office I have a 24 hour emergency phone number and I, like Jerry, have gone in to my office on evenings, weekends and holidays to assist those who are having pain in their teeth and jaws. It is pretty much expected in my region.
When I am away and or not available to see patients I have other local dentists look after my emergency calls and return the favor for them.
I guess not every dentist feels they need to be available for their petients outside of their regular office hours.
All the best,
Mike

Dianne, I have those mysterious toothaches too. Like you, no teeth in my mouth either. At nite I have a thumping in my jaw that I feel in my ears too. I was thinking, maybe we could get a job for Halloween . I bet we would be cute as hell. {^^}

I love Halloween I think it should be considered a national holiday...This year I was thinking of going as a bobble head (the swelling is still quite severe) because a vampire is just out of the question...and yeah I bet we would be cute!!!

I know there are a few dentist on this site and from reading posts they are quite caring. I am sorry if my opinion reguarding dentists upset anyone it wasn't meant to I have just had really bad experiences with having dental work done.

Until my last couple of surgeries had the same opinion of the medical profession too..but I have been lucky and have had really caring and talented professionals...