Help me get an idea what I'm in for?

I just moved to a new city and I am going to pick a dentist this week. I have a little bit of a back story/issue and I'm really not sure what steps I need to take.

I've had dental issues my entire life, a little bit because of genetics, and a little bit because I have a medical issue that requires that I drink a harsh blend of amino acids every day. My enamel is shot. I don't think that's the exact cause of my problem right now though. I also have anxiety issues and as a result, grind my teeth in my sleep. I also find myself clenching my jaw a lot. I'm really trying hard to stop doing that though.

Over the past year one tooth in particular has started giving me trouble. Back in, I think, November I was experiencing pain in a way I never felt before and my dentist told me I had sprained the ligament of the tooth because of how much I was grinding my teeth. Her treatment was to tell me to keep taking my anxiety medication and to work on not grinding my teeth. I did my best.

Around Thanksgiving I developed severe pain spasms on the same side of my face. Worst pain of my entire life. The doctor in the emergency room diagnosed me with a middle ear infection and sinusitis. I was given antibiotics and pain meds. after two weeks I was still experiencing a lot of pain, especially near the tooth affected by grinding and the tooth directly above it. I went back to my dentist because I was at a loss of what to do. My regular doctor basically told me to wait it out, but couldn't tell me how much longer. Call me crazy, but I still have trouble believing earache and sinus -itis could cause that kind of pain. We are talking weeping into my hands in the emergency room kind of pain

Another week later I was still having pain that stopped me in my tracks if I put anything cold in my mouth. My dentist took x-rays and showed me the sinus infection was definitely present enough to show up in dental x-rays, but also said it should only be a few more days. by New Year's eve, I was almost back to normal.

In the past two weeks though, I've noticed there is now some pain in both teeth originally affected by my grinding. Absolutely no trouble with cold, but if I clinched my teeth together it's almost a weird kind of numb/pain. It kind of feels like the bottom tooth is a little taller than it should be.

I'm going to try taking some over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, but if this doesn't clear up in a few more days, I think it's time to see another dentist. or endodontist?

The dentist I had for the past two years didn't seem to think I needed to do anything extra, but at one point she mumbled something about referring me to an endodontist to her assistant. when I questioned her about anything further I can do to help, she said before I did anything else I needed to work on not grinding my teeth anymore.

So I'm about to start my search for a new dentist anyway, and I'm just wondering if this is something that sounds like a common issue? I don't even know. I'm familiar with cavities, fluoride treatments, and that's about it. I don't really know what questions I should be asking, or how much I should push for further action. Or is this just one of those things where I have to throw up my hands and go "this is my life now."

Submitted March 01, 2015 at 04:57PM by erroneousneophyte http://ift.tt/18CbEKo