I Could Kick Myself for Not Stopping My Loud Dental Procedure

Just woke up this morning. My tinnitus is so loud and my ears feel like they're burning inside. Very strange to wake up that way.

 

Use noise cancelling headphones for any further work. I had a big amalgam filling drilled out close to my bad ear and the NC headphones made it very bearable with no impact on tinnitus. Your T will improve with time I'm trying to recover from a baloon that burst near me. Worst tinnitus ever at the moment. Hang in there.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, but in this incident the noise and vibration were literally being transmitted through my skull. I can't even describe the intensity. It was like he was drilling inside my ears. And this went on for 10 minutes or more because I somehow stopped using my brain during that time.

 

NC headphones will still help. I was drilled in upper molar for good 10 minutes and they made huge difference. Earplugs are not recommended due to due to occlusion effect but NC headphones helped me .

 

@CMIH -- I reached a juncture about 8-10 months into my tinnitus where my ears started burning. Would be low level in the morning, and gradually increase throughout the day, being at its worst in the evening. Plus, it seemed to be gradually getting worse. -- I had an acupuncture session after a few weeks of this, and the burning dissipated by about 95% after just that one session. I seldom experience burning these days, but when I do, I do a little self-acupuncture, and it seems to clear it up quickly. Unfortunately, it hasn't seemed to make a difference in my tinnitus volume.

 

Hi Lane. Thanks for the reply. I can't imagine how you do self accupuncture. My doctor told me the pain (and I assume now the burning, too) is from inflammation, hence the steroid prescription.

Incidentally, I called my uncle who is a retired dentist. I described to him what I experienced and he said he'd never heard of such a thing happening before. I can't believe I'm the only one to whom this has happened.

 

@CMIH -- I can easily see where it could be inflammation, but I think there's also a possibility it may not be the total picture. It seems that when tinnitus starts, it can cause all kinds of reactions, especially neurological ones. I think a neurological reaction was at least part of what was causing my burning, but I believe inflammation also played a role. That's why I apply topical DMSO to my ear areas on a regular basis--to keep that inflammation down as much as possible. The following post describes a bit more about how I use DMSO.

DMSO & Magnesium Oil for Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS)

 

Thanks for sharing the info Lane, but I'm hesitant to use a home remedy of any kind.

The latest change is that this morning I've noticed my tinnitus has changed. Before it was only a high pitch squeal. Now in addition to the squeal I hear a low rumble.

 

Woke up about 1:30 AM (15 min ago). Ears are burning inside and tinnitus is insanely loud. I feel like something is severely damaged inside. I don't know what's really happening but that's how it feels. Saw an ENT yesterday who prescribed another week of Prednisone, but at a higher dose. The eardrums look normal. Whatever is happening is deep inside. I've taken to wearing ear plugs while I'm driving to give my hearing some "rest" from the road noise. I used to listen to the radio all the time. Not now.

 

This causes or increases tinnitus more than the noise from drilling.

The ligament in your dental procedure area has retrodiscal tissue, nerves, blood vessels and other small ligaments which can cause ear pain and/or tinnitus. Ear pain or tinnitus can also be caused by myalgia (muscle pain) of the jaw. This tissue is often a major contributor to the pain of temporomandibular function when there is inflammation or compression within the jaw joint.

So tinnitus can be increased by the compression of ligaments between the jaw joint and the ear canal. There are two smaller ligaments called the discomalleolar ligament and the anterior malleolar ligament. The ligaments are attached to the malleus (one of three bones of the middle ear) and to the ligament of the jaw joint and to the jaw. Trauma, inflammation or stretching of these ligaments can cause tinnitus, dizziness and ear pain. With this stretching and mouth open TMD develops. So a thin mouth guard that does not cover molars might just help. Control jaw pressure by keeping lips closed and front teeth on an even plain. Rest and relax your jaw.

 

You’re doing the right things, I’m in the same boat as you this week. It’s a mine field but I remind myself that the other people with tinnitus I know are not even that educated on precautions and that maybe the stress we’re putting ourselves through is exacerbating the sound. Regarding other tones I got several ones that come and go as time passed lasting days or weeks but then fading...x

 

Thank you for replying. The dental procedure didn't involve any trauma to my jaw. My mouth wasn't open unusually long or wide. Also, yesterday the ENT doctor checked my jaw. She told me to hold my mouth open while she felt and pressed around the area where the jaw connects to the skull. None of that was tender. Maybe she was checking for what you taking about. I'm certain this is the direct result of the indescribably loud vibration noise transmitted through the bone. It was like standing next to a high pitch jet engine except the noise seemed to be coming from inside he head, not externally.

 

I'm at work and my ears are screaming. I almost stayed home today. I didn't have this much stress the first time I had tinnitus back in the late 90's. It's not just the noise that upsets me. It's knowing that I've done so much damage to my hearing. I really enjoy listening to music and now I know I'm not going to be hearing part of it anymore. That and just losing more hearing in general is upsetting.

 

I’m hoping your spike settles. I’m off today, left work after an hour and was in such a state my boss sent me home - ears were too loud. I’ve just read an article in The Mighty “I’m not going down without a fight”, about a music teacher. Worth a read. I’m not bothered about music, I only care about my job and family... and functioning.

 

Candy, I read essay on The Mighty. Thank God my tinnitus is not that life-altering. It puts mine in life perspective, but doesn't make it easier to deal with. I think if mine were the result of forces beyond my control it would be a little easier to accept because I wouldn't have myself to blame. In my case, the whole thing was avoidable. Funny thing is I felt like banging my head against the wall, but stopped myself because that would probably make it worse.

 

It's 5:40 AM. Still lying in bed. Briefly tried listening to music. It's no use. The tinnitus is so loud I can hear it over the music. Turned off the music and I can faintly hear sounds like raindrops out the window, but I can't tell for sure. I checked the weather app on my phone. No rain. I looked out the window. It's actually the sprinkler system. I can no longer hear the fainter, higher pitch of the spray. I'm just hearing the louder drops. It's just depressing. I know that compared to serious health problems one can have losing some hearing is relatively minor, but I'm a very detailed-oriented person, so losing any hearing bothers the hell out of me. I don't mean to whine. I'm just venting here because I don't know anyone personally who can relate.

 

I get it about the self blame, that’s why when I have random spikes I get on with it and this time I am stuck and ruminating especially with all my knowledge and how careful I’ve been for three years. I hear you. Those feelings will mellow as time goes by.

 

I only slept about three hours last night. I called in sick to work. I can't function on three hours sleep. I suspect the steroid isn't going to help. When the ENT doctor prescribed it she said "it wouldn't hurt", other than the side-effects, but I won't be taking it long-term. I suspect maybe she prescribed it more for my mental/emotional health than because she thinks it will do much for the tinnitus and hearing loss. No, I think the damage is done. I think a lot of hair cells in my inner ear were irreparably damaged by the extreme, violent noise of that dentist drill removing the enamel from my tooth (like having a miniature jet engine directly in your ear), and that's why I'm getting these false auditory signals (aka tinnitus). And this is apparently going to be my new "normal".

 

Just woke up, 3:15 AM. First thing I noticed is both the tinnitus and the absense of the usual ambient night sounds. I can just barely hear a bird chirping outside, but it's very, very faint and muffled. (I never understood why sparrows chirp at night. Maybe they chirp in their dreams?) Something else is missing, other sounds I mean (obviously), but I can't explain what it is/they are. I never really thought about the various miscellaneous sounds I heard at night. My bed is next to a window and I live in a house in a neighborhood with lots of trees in a large metropolitan area. There's a busy major street less than a mile away, and a freeway a couple miles away. Used to be I could hear the sounds of the cars and trucks at night. Not that I want to hear the sounds of cars and trucks, just that I notice I'm not hearing them now. There used to be just a low level "hum" of various outside sounds at night like a neighbor's air conditioner. I did hear a distant freight train blowing it's whistle, but more muffled than before. And now I can hear an airplane in the distance. I live with my great-aunt. Her bedroom is down the hallway and she goes to sleep with the TV on. I can hear people talking on TV, but I can't make out what they're saying (two weeks ago I could have). The loss of these sounds isn't some great tragedy. I just can't be as aware of my surroundings as I was before. What if there's a noise in the house that shouldn't be there and I don't hear it now? The hearing test at the ENT's office showed loss of high frequency hearing. I already knew it would. I just didn't know how bad it would be. When something bad happens I tend to expect the worst and hope for the best. I think my expectation this time is being realized. I really do have very noticable hearing loss. Well it's 4:19 now. I should try to get more sleep. I have to get up in a couple of hours and go to work.

 

The tinnitus in my right ear is extreme today. Went grocery shopping to take my mind off of it. Was going okay until I got a phone call while at the grocery store. I had noticeable difficulty hearing the caller because her voice sounded muted/dull. Missing those higher frequencies really makes a difference.

Yesterday on my way to work I had to call my supervisor to let her know I was running a little late. First time I called I thought I heard her answer but I could barely hear anything. I actually thought there was something wrong with the connection so I hung up and called back.

Same problem. It wasn't the connection. I just can't hear as well anymore on the phone.

 

As I go through the day and notice my hearing loss and extreme tinnitus I keep getting the feeling of disbelief. It's like I can't believe this really happen. That I let it happen. That the dentist let it happen. I mean if you're a dentist and you're working in somebody's mouth and they're complaining of extreme pain in their ears why wouldn't you stop? Isn't there a Hippocratic oath where they're not supposed to do any damage?

 

Sadly, AKAIK, dentists do not take the Hippocratic oath, just doctors.

It sounds like subjectively, your hearing is progressively getting worse, and fairly quickly. Maybe you should think about repeating your audiogram to document if this is really the case.

 

I have an appointment in about a week to follow up with the ENT and have another test. I don't know what for really. It's not like they can do anything to repair the damage. The first test was actually painful. I guess because of the condition of my ears at the time. In fact even now I find moderately loud sounds painful. For example, I went out to lunch with my sister and her family today. I was using a drink machine ice dispenser to put ice in a cup and the sound of the ice dropping into the glass was actually painful. I've never had pain from a common everyday sound like that before.

 

Sounds like you are getting into some hyperacusis. It is quite bothersome, and it can develop in a delayed fashion as you are describing.

Hope it passes soon. I had mine for about a month, and the microwave beeping was truly painful for a while.

 

I feel for you.

I am wondering why the other dentist couldn't have done the work since you didn't have a problem with a previous crown (he did?) before? I know it won't make a difference now but I am still curious.

So, are people supposed to wear NC headphones when they get dental work but still request manual cleaning? I read that it might not be as effective and easy on the enamel? But, it was the original method of what dentists used, right?

OP, I think you developed h but the spike might reduce. Do you have previous hearing loss? I hope it improves for you. .

 

No type of plugs or headphones would have protected me from what happened because it wasn't the noise coming through the air that hurt my ears. It was the intense, high-speed vibrations transmitted through bone of my skull to the inner ears. Mere words cannot describe what it was like. It was like high pitched violent screeching in my ears. As for which dentist will complete the work, I don't know yet. I have to find another dentist in my dental insurance plan, and hope after I explain the situation he or she will accept me as a patient. I don't know if another dentist will be willing to finish the crown started by the original dentist.

 

What about the dentist who did a previous crown which didn't affect you? I would try to find out more info on that. Not just the dentist but the tools he used and how he did it without it bothering you. Was it the same type of procedure? I don't know how much the tools can differ but I would want to know if a comparison can be made and if there are better options. I wonder if dentists vary too in skill, how they work and try to find out if any have had tinnitus patients/clients.

 

You are describing worsening tinnitus and noxacusis (noise induced pain)
https://www.statnews.com/2016/02/18/noise-induced-ear-pain/


See a doctor just so they can diagnosis you and ask what treatments there are, no one on this forum can help you other then advice to let your ears heal as much as possible.

https://neurosciencenews.com/inner-ear-neuron-damage-3033/

 

I'm scheduled for a follow-up with the ENT. As for no one on this forum being able to help me other and advising to let my ears heal as much as possible, that's not entirely true. Just having understanding people to talk to and respond helps, mentally.

I discovered yet something new this evening. I'm having difficulty understanding what some people on TV are saying. I turned on the TV in the middle of a British murder mystery series show. I couldn't understand half of what they were saying because the speech sounded so muffled. I've watched that show before and never had that problem.

 

Thanks Pete, but I no longer a patient of the other dentist because she doesn't take my insurance, so I don't think she would have the time or interest in answering such questions. Do they vary in skill? I'm sure they do. You know that joke about what they call a doctor who graduates last in his class?: Doctor. No doubt the same applies to dentists. I will definitely talk to the next dentist about what happened, but that's kind of tricky because the fact that I'm saying a dentist injured my hearing might make some dentists not want to accept me as a patient. They might see me as potentially a problem patient.