Tooth shard cutting tongue... ; ;
 

An upper back molar has cracked and as result of that there is a shard that's poking at my tongue, causing pain whenever I speak, swallow or try to eat. The tooth itself is asymptomatic, but my dentist can't have me in until late next week. In the meantime, it really hurts my tongue and makes life miserable. The shard of tooth is SHARP.

I've tried putting orthodontic wax on it, the kind they sell for braces, but it won't stay. Any ideas on what I could put on the sharp piece of tooth to prevent it from cutting my tongue? My tongue has actually bled a little from this, and it's only been like this for 2 days. Many more to come...

Any kind of ideas from duct tape to cotton balls are welcome. I'm desperate here.

I feel for you I really do, I had a molar break back in february and they pulled it. Problem was it broke when they pulled it...exactly one month later I felt like I had an exacto knife blade sticking out of my gum and cutting the inside of my cheek. I thought, crap they didnt get out the whole tooth, so I called the dentist, who saw me a few days later (the inside of my cheek was like hamburger meat by then)

He told me that part of the jawbone had splintered when they pulled it and it was actually the bone shards coming out...OUCH. He said I had two choices, surgery to take out the rest or deal with it coming out piece by piece. Now another month later I wish I'd dealt with the surgery.

I know its not exactly the same as you, but I wanted you to know I feel for you I really do. Where did you find orthodontal wax? (eww brings back bad memories from childhood hehehe) I asked him if he had any but he didnt and I dont know where to find any. I've been using sugar free gum.

Yeah, hamburger meat I think is a fair description of what my tongue's turning into.

I found orthodontal wax at the pharmacy aisle of a grocery store, the dental stuff section. It's a common item, and cheap.

This should be considered a problem needing urgent dental treatment - your dentist should work you in right away. I'm surprised he hasn't.

damn...I've looked and cant find it....maybe Im just over looking it

I hope they can fix it soon!!

That sucks!! I'd find another dentist. In fact, if you could find one that would see you sooner that might be the perfect dentist to switch to!

i second the wax, it helped me get through my braces. also, don't take anything to powerful for the pain, if you don't feel it, you could do some nasty things for your tongue.

try getting the tooth really dry before applying the wax. when I had braces I could never get the stuff to stick unless I dried the spot first.

You could try one of those trays that stop you from grinding your teeth at night for sleeping?

I second (or is it third) finding a new dentist. With something like that you should be "squeezed in" the same day if not the next.

Call the dentist back and tell them you are in pain and need to be seen ASAP. If they can't (or won't) see you immediately, ask them to refer another dentist that will be able to see you. They'll either comply and send you to a colleague or they'll get the hint and find an opening.

This is one of those times where it pays to be really assertive.

I chipped a tooth and had a sharp, cutting point to deal with. I used a nail file to smooth it out. Worked great.

Well you got lucky. People should not do their own dental work. What's next, do-it-yourself bypass surgery? ;)

You really should find a new dentist. That sort of thing should not wait. Thats like going to the emergancy room in the hospital and being told to come back next week. That sort of thing could cause a infection that could cause all sorts of bad problems. Find a diffrent dentist if your normal one wont see you right away for that sort of problem.

I have braces. I ran out of ortho wax that I got at my ortho office. They work the same hours I do, so I couldn't go there after work for wax. I found some at Wallgreens, by the dental floss. If all else fails finding it in the store, go to an ortho office and ask if you can buy some there. My orthodontist gives me all i need for free because I am a patient. But I think it was $2.50 at Wallgreens.

You have to apply to a dry spot (someone said that). Also, you need to roll it up in a small ball in your hands and warm it up first. Otherwise, it won't stick. You may have to coat the entire tooth or close to it. A tiny spot will come off. It kind of has to 'cling' around something.

Hope this helps.

heh Had this problem over a year ago.. I had a side molar crown just dislove on me one day. Left a nasty pointy edge rubbing on my tongue. I got tired of it, so i took like 3 lura tab 10's, drank a 5th of kentucky delux chased with 2 corona extras .. squeezed a tube of oral jel in my mouth.. took my neddle nose plires and snap. Woke up on the bathroom floor a few hours later but the shard was gone.

Yeah it flys into the deep end of insanity doing that. but the night before the cops came to my door thinking someone being raped or killed cuz of my screaming. I had no insurance and had to get it gone.