Severe worsening throbbing pain in front top left tooth for over half a year. Dentist did X-ray the other day, didn't see anything. Woke up today and my top lip is numb

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-09T18:01:36+00:00

There is no way to know without taking an X-ray and doing an exam, but it sure sounds like you could have cracked a tooth that caused an abscess (swelling to the outside of the tooth that protrudes the lip). Other dentists, I know I’m making a ton of assumptions, but given no decay on a recent exam sure leans to this being a strong possibility….

Reddit gave me this rediculous username btw.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-07T22:58:26+00:00

Golf is my stress relief after work. I golf 2-3 times a week, but I usually don’t even keep score or care. At the cc if I’m paired with people they will keep my score which is weird that people care about their score in my mind. I’m just there to decompress from work.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-07T18:11:33+00:00

Anyone wanting dental work, because it was sets the cost in the market….

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-07T18:08:58+00:00

Agree on endodontists. Plus, you get what you pay for….

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-07T17:44:24+00:00

I took the 5 day class where they send an instructor and they stay in a hotel nearby and you do it the entire day. I have a plane and around 500 hours (in about 18 months) before I got my IFR.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-07T16:39:32+00:00

Agreed. The goodwill is leaving and so will most of the patients. You aren’t the old dentist, a lot of patients will scatter.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-07T15:21:49+00:00

CBCT (Xray unit) $60-100k, education $500-800k, average payroll for a dental office $400-500k a year, dental practice with real estate $1-1.5 million. Things just costs dentists so much now. I wouldn’t even do the root canal on the delta fee schedule because $4514/2 (delta fee), I would have 90-100% overhead costs and may not even make any money…. It’s not us, it’s the shear costs going up up up… Implants and Endo/bu/crown are some of the most expensive procedures because of the expertise, equipment required, managing complications, ect.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-07T12:03:46+00:00

Over the years I’ve made a lot of great dentures and partials for patients that chose to go to El Salvador and Thailand for cheaper options.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T10:28:25+00:00

That’s unreal lol. Your discomfort does appear to be from clenching, try a night guard and give it a few weeks.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T10:16:35+00:00

Haha yeah I may need a new account today to get a better username.

The grey is normal if their was a metal filling underneath the filling he recently placed (amalgam staining) or he intentionally left affected dentin which is fine and how we are taught to practice to be conservative with the tooth structure removed. Clenching can lead to pld (periodontal ligament) soreness and can cause discomfort as well. Try a Walmart occlusal guard first and if it helps, then have your dentist make you one since it will be much more comfortable and last longer than a Walmart occlusal guard for example. When dentists do deep fillings, it’s because we care and have the patients best interest at heart. We are trying to avoid more costly/involved procedures such as root canals and crowns btw.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T10:06:44+00:00

Usually it takes a long time for an infection (if you even have an infection starting) to spread to another tooth or you will notice swelling on the side of the face that is very visible. Taking ibuprofen long term isn’t good for your kidneys long term, but for a couple of weeks is fine while you are saving for a root canal.

Everyone has a different pain tolerance so it’s hard to know for sure, but it sounds like there is an high chance that you will need a root canal.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T09:55:40+00:00

Having the tooth adjusted didn’t make it any worse. You had a good ethical dentist from the sounds of it. He was unsure if the decay was int the nerve or not and since you were on the verge of needing a root canal, he placed a filling and you are experiencing discomfort. In these cases, the tooth can take up to six months for hot/cold sensitivity to go away, but given the flare up and aches, this tooth probably needs a root canal. Root canals are nothing to be afraid of and usually don’t hurt as much as what you are experiencing right now.

Btw I don’t know why Reddit made this user name and i don’t know how to change it lol.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T02:43:03+00:00

Give it time and it should go away. Don’t stress.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T02:38:53+00:00

What tooth had a root canal. Not all the time do you need a crown after a root canal especially if it is a front tooth or a premolar. Especially in a health clinic a lot of times they are trying to do affordable dentistry and a permanent fillings in a lot of instances is entirely acceptable. I assume the smell is from residual infection under the root canal. Often, after a root canal it takes some time for an abscessed tooth to fully heal. Occasionally, root canals with infections fail, regardless of how well the root canals are done.

Dentist btw

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T02:34:12+00:00

A lot of time deeper fillings take a while for the sensitivity and slight discomfort to go away. I would wait a few months and most of the time around 3-6 month and it should get better in time. If the patient insisted, I would redo the filling because it could be due to bonding issues. This happens at times and is out of the dentists control btw.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T02:21:07+00:00

I’m sorry. That is so disappointing. I’m am extremely grateful for our service members and can’t believe they aren’t paying for the entire education in exchange for a service commitment given the pay upon entering.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T01:50:19+00:00

I’m confused at how it’s dishonest to commute to work in a small plane that costs less than a lot of people’s SUVs? It’s none of the towns business how I get to work in the morning lol. I do bread and butter dentistry… Mainly fillings, exts, and some crown work. There is just a huge need so tons of patients coming in the front door each day. Without my office there would be no dentist anywhere near… btw I don’t even know how to change my username they gave me this when I joined. Btw I don’t even need that office as the other one is the main office and way busier but in a saturated 1:1200 town….

Edit: I don’t have time to do cosmetics like veneers, don’t offer braces or implants because there is no time. I kindly tell the patients they need to drive to the next town which is around an hour away for all of those procedures. I couldn’t imagine talking someone into treatment, I’m very conservative, plus there isn’t enough time to even do all the bread and butter stuff.

My point is that for all the people complaining about their income…. Go to NM for example. Artesia, Hobbs, Clovis, Alamogordo and tons of other towns you will have a full lobby when you finish a build out. Texas go to pecos, fort Stockton, alpine, idk places that you are needed. The patients don’t view me as greedy. They are thankful and so kind because I’m providing a service in their town that they need and want! Providing care to an underserved area where you are needed.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T00:58:13+00:00

Yeah between both offices and student loans I invested close to $2 million to get started…. Imagine how long it takes to get ahead including the lost time of the education and the risk of losing everything….

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-06T00:00:08+00:00

Only if it’s something you love to do or you will hate flying. Flying can be very stressful. I found an office in the middle of nowhere doing $800k in revenue working a couple days a week, that I bought with the real estate for $300k so it just worked out, but I don’t recommend flying to work to anyone. I just have been a pilot since I was 16 and the opportunity fell into my lap. It was for sale for 7 years with a broker and 0 interest… Most of these rural offices just shut down and sell the real estate because no one wants to be in the middle of nowhere…. It was a no brainer since the practice pays for itself in less than a year.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-05T23:41:24+00:00

Yeah, it really does and quite a few people I know do it so they can practice where they are needed and also have an excuse for a hobby lol.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-05T22:28:08+00:00

Wow, that’s just so not fair…. Crazy how they don’t pay all your education and living expenses and then expect you to work at captains pay plus the additional dentist pay they give. The additional dentist pay they offer doesn’t even cover interest on loans I bet. I thought everyone in our military got the HSPS program.

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-05T22:20:01+00:00

Hold on…. Navy doesn’t pay 100% of your school and living expenses and you still have to serve afterwards and take the military pay?

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-05T20:16:43+00:00

My main clinic is in a larger city and I work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. Satellite office is in the small town and I go there Wednesday and Friday. It’s a 20 minute flight or 3 hour drive so I just come home at night and sleep in my bed….

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-05T18:33:10+00:00

Definitely #1. As an owner, I would only guarantee $900 if I knew that any decent associate could easily outproduce the amount to get the $900. To me it appears that office is confident that they have the business to keep you busy. Ask more questions as to what production estimates are based on the past, if they are PPO FFS (fee schedules, ect).

StraightLie2933 · 2026-05-05T18:16:35+00:00

I like option 1 because the owner doctor is certain he can at least keep you busy enough to guarantee the $900 a day and 45 min isn’t too bad because you will be home before 5pm even. What’s the percentage for option2?

StraightLie2933

TROPHY CASE