Unbearable tooth pain - All dentists are closed until Tuesday!?

Question

At first I thought it was just another tooth in need of a root canal. Though, that still may be the case, I have an extreme pressure sensation - it feels like the tooth is being forced out of my gums in an upward motion. The pain started Wednesday evening and is now worse than ever. I haven't slept in 4 days. I called virtually every dentist and emergency clinic in and around Seattle, only to find out everyone is on break until Tuesday. I went to my regular doctor and got a Rx for Vicodin and Amoxicillin. I am currently taking 1000mg of Vicodin, wait 2 hours then 650mg of Aspirin, wait another 2 hours then another 1000mg Vicodin, so on and so forth. I apply maximum strength Orajel every 45min. THE PAIN WILL NOT SUBSIDE. I am 23 yrs old, no insurance, and after reading other answers here, pulling the tooth myself does not seem wise. With no insurance, the ER costs might be more unbearable than the pain. Can anyone help me so I can get to sleep and wait for my dentist appt Tuesday?

My God, people.
If you are going post answers on this site, READ THE ENTIRE QUESTION FIRST.

Like blaze and casey said, I have pain meds and orajel and I'm still in pain. Thanks to those who did read and are offering great advice :)

***UPDATE***
I stopped taking the orajel, upped the Amoxicillin, kept a bag of frozen peas on my face, and finally slept for about 3 hours last night! :) Trouble is, face is swollen now, and I'm completely out of Vicoden. Oh well, one more night to go. Thanks to everyone for your help - I wish I could pick more than one best answer. Happy New Years!

Answer 1

The emergency room will do just what your doctor did so it really is not worth it. There are programs that can help you with financial aid for paying your hospital bills if you do decide to seek treatment in the ED. Contact the financial dep at the hospital you choose.

Try using ice. It sounds like a abscess. I will help a little, help with the swelling. That is what my husband did when he had the exact same thing. He took some vicodin and ended up falling asleep on the ice pack. No the vicodin did not help either but the ice seemed to ease it a bit. Sorry and good luck.

Answer 2

I am in the same situation since Thursday. I actually have a appt already scheduled for Tues for a root canal on this tooth.
I can relate. Take your meds and use ice.
You did not say when you started the vicodin and Amoxicillin, but it's always between 1 to 3 days before you get relief. I'm getting relief just today.
Even if you could get a hold of your dentist,, no dentist would touch it until the infection was gone. That is regular practice. If they tried to do a root canal, the novicane would not work and it would feel like tourture and the infection could sread and make you really sick. I've had 8 root canals. :-(

I think I am just going to have it taken out. I am getting a partial in the next 2 months so they can add this tooth to the partial. This is the worst one I've ever had. My whole jaw and bone feel like it will explode.

Hang in there
Pam

Answer 3

Don't suggest going to the ER. They will only give you meds like you already have. Will cost you a lot and also a very long wait. Might want to cut down on the orajel. If you use it too much will actually burn the gums and cause them to hurt. Orajel won't help tooth pain anyway. Just gum pain. You can try cold packs applied to the outside of your face. Not warm/hot. It will cause you to swell. If you have an infection the dentist would have prescribed the same as your doctor. The anesthetic won't work well if you have an infection. Need to have the antibiotics work a few days first. Hope you make it till Tuesday!

Answer 4

Better check prescription strengths Vicoden comes in dosages up to 10mg if you are taking 1000 mg you could o.d. Ibuprofen will help tooth pain much better than aspirin. Aspirin not recommended for tooth pain. Ora-gel helps tissue or gum pain only. Cold compresses should reduce inflammation try on the outside and inside of mouth. You may be able to double up on antibiotics for a couple of doses to get a jump start on the infection. Who gave you the RX? could you contact them for help? You really need to see someone my hunch is a tooth needs to be opened up to drain. The pressure will continue to build until there is an outlet. Try the phone book we live in a small town and have 2 emergency dental places, my husband is a dentist and we get calls at all hours, anyone you call on Tues should be able to advise you before then. To summarize cold, Ibuprofen, check on doubling antibiotics dosage. Good luck.

Answer 5

Guys, going to the ER wouldn't accomplish anything, because like he said, he already HAS *heavy duty* painkillers, and they're not doing much. I wish I had a good suggestion for you, because that must suck, but like one person said, oil of clove helped me a lot when I was having some really intense pain with an infection in a wisdom tooth. Hope you start feeling better.

Answer 6

Poor thing -- I know just how you feel having been thru the same thing myself. Be sure to keep taking the amoxicillin because if you have an abscess, it will help it resolve and your pain will gradually lessen.

Also, I found that heat helped me more than cold. If you have a heating pad, turn it on medium and place it against the part of your jaw that hurts. A warm wash cloth will also help if you don't have a heating pad.

Answer 7

To kill the pain, put an aspirin directly on the tooth. If that doesn't stop the pain, you might have an infection and I would go to Urgent Care.

Answer 8

Let me guess your wisdom teeth I'm going thru the same thing...my dentist perscribed me Darvocet but its an older drug so I dont know if it would work...I hate to say it but you just got to wait it out b/c I did the same thing and it sucked so bad when you go to the dentist and they say its your wisdom teeth make sure your dentist says to get all four pulled out and at the oral surgeons they will put you to sleep while they do it sometimes they wont put you to sleep...depends on your doctor.

Answer 9

Whatever it is, try dipping a cotton ball into some whisky. It doesn't matter what brand.
Then, bite on it for a few hours.

or you know, get hammered until Tuesday.
No pain!
:]

(i was kidding.)

Answer 10

Oil of clove. You cant beat it for toothache. It don't taste too good but it kills all the pain.
Good luck hun and hope it's better soon.

Happy 2007