Dental stuff and jaw pain

[KuariKaydrith]

I have finally taken the steps to get some much needed dental work done as my teeth (what's left of them) are a complete mess.

For me this is a huge step because I am a giant chicken when it comes to dentists in general. Actually, my fear of dentists is almost to the point of a phobia but I knew that I couldn't go much longer with my mouth in the state that it currently is and it would only get worse if I didn't finally gather all my nerve together and get my ass to a dentist. It also helps that my dental plan through work covers 90% of all basic work.

At the moment I am sitting propped up in bed after having three teeth extracted yesterday - that particular side of my face aches all the way up to my eye socket. I've taken extra strength ibuprofen to help with the pain or I'd likely be in agony about now, but does anybody have any other suggestions to help? Ice packs or warm compresses? I really need to be more functional today than this as I'm supposed to be getting ready for a sci-fi and fantasy event at the end of the month but I'm too achy to really sit in front of my sewing machine for very long.

I will say that the extraction process was probably the easiest I have ever had. The last time I had an extraction it took most of an hour and it was only one tooth. This time it was maybe a half-hour and three teeth. I'm going to put it down to the dentist being really freakin' good. And she knows that I am terrified of dentists but she is so damn good at managing to keep me calm, and the Ativan I took before I went in probably helped.

The only thing that really has me down is not that I know that at the end of all this I will be needing dentures, upper and lower. Guess what is not covered in my dental plan? That is what actually has me down at this point. But through fundraising efforts I have received just over 5% of the monies I will need to pay for these dentures. I'd add a link to this post but I know that is frowned upon without permission, and I do not want to be a pest! Somehow I will manage to get what I need, even if it means taking out a small payday loan as my dental office doesn't really do payment plans. Oh well, such is life, but I'm sure I'll figure it out somehow!

In the meantime I'm going to be a complete sook and hope that somebody has some suggestions for pain management. I really don't like taking strong meds but I'm wishing I'd asked for a prescription for something stronger. Bleh.

[laborcat]

I don't know the exact details of the thing, but I applied for one of those "care credit" accounts that are meant to provide more affordable options for paying for medical expenses to help with my own dental issues. I found it through the website of a local dental urgent care.

As for pain control, I was taking the super ibuprofen twice as often but finally started rotating different types of pain pills. I'd do the ibuprofen, then in four hours take Tylenol, then in four hours ibuprofen again. That helped more. I can't take anything stronger because narcotics make my skin crawl and my limbs twitch and I either pass out or puke for hours.

I hope you get relief soon. It's a bear dealing with dental pain. Hugs.

[Aragarthiel]

I've had most of my baby teeth pulled since they wouldn't come out for the adult teeth, and cold things like yogurt and ice cream always helped. Warm foods like soup, on the other hand, tended to irritate, but I'm not sure if a warm compress might help more since it's not directly on the tooth. I wish I could help more but seeing as I only had baby teeth pulled, the recovery time was incredibly short and I didn't need painkillers for more than a day.

[cindybubbles]

I had four teeth extracted to help make my braces fit my other teeth. I don't know how I got over the pain, but I did.

I think I took Tylenol, but I don't know if I took anything else for the pain.

[Nunavut Pants]

They told me to use ice if I was sore after the extraction. Treat it just like any other inflammation, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. The Elevation part should happen naturally, and I don't think I'd want to try Compression on my face. But Ice (wrapped in cloth so you don't give yourself frostbite!) should help at least some.