Steph, by far the worst tooth pain I've ever had, and least responsive to pain killers, was from an infection. So if they can at least throw you some amoxycilin or whatever, it'll be worth it.

I had a tooth -- that I did not know had a cavity. Long long long time between dentist visits.

I thought it was my sinuses. Absolute blinding pain -- that lasted for a short while, then went away. back and forth. Then eventually the pain stopped. Dead tooth.

I thought it was my sinuses. Absolute blinding pain -- that lasted for a short while, then went away. back and forth.

Hmm. Crap.

Then eventually the pain stopped.

Was "eventually" over the course of a day? Or longer? Because I will totally call a dentist tomorrow, but if I *can* avoid the ER tonight, I'd rather.

Longer

But I tend to get really stupid about head pain and ignore it.

It was probably a year later that I actually went to the dentist . And when he asked me about be feeling pain as it died -- I said no . Because I forgot. A few weeks later I made the connection

Longer

But I tend to get really stupid about head pain and ignore it.

This is definitely not pain I can ignore. It's like Spike's brain-chip pain.

Hey. Maybe I have a chip!

Because I will totally call a dentist tomorrow, but if I *can* avoid the ER tonight, I'd rather.

Is it just one tooth? Because you keep saying *teeth* like it's a more general area, and that really might be pressure on the nerves from sinus pain.

The pain can and will flare and then subside. For tonight, once you've got the ibuprofen and tylenol/percoset built up, you might be okay to sleep if you keep your head as propped up as you can and still sleep, and do try the ice. I mean, if it flares immediately, take it away, but for me, I've stopped flares with a quick application of an ice pack and a swab of oragel before ibuprofen sets in.

Is it just one tooth? Because you keep saying *teeth* like it's a more general area, and that really might be pressure on the nerves from sinus pain.

No, it's teeth, plural. Basically if you bisected my head vertically (like the Mayor getting his head sliced in two), all of the bottom teeth on the right side -- the same side as the ear/cheek/throat pain -- are involved in the pain game.

all of the bottom teeth on the right side -- the same side as the ear/cheek/throat pain -- are involved in the pain game

I would be willing to bet that's sinus, then, babe. The ER trip might be worth it in that case.

I too am hoping to avoid the ER tonight--though, not for me--for one of the kiddos I'm watching. Her fever spiked at school today. Fortunately, it seems to be coming down, so I've sent her to bed. We'll see how she does.

Steph, that sounds much more like sinus problems than dental problems. When the sinuses get inflamed, they can press on the facial nerves. (I knew someone who ended up with half her face paralyzed because of an untreated sinus infection that compressed a nerve. That sometimes reverses itself, and it may have in her case, but I don't know -- I worked with her for a summer, and the paralysis happened around the second week, and was still there when the program ended after six weeks.)