Dental ??? - Root Canal Problem

[mtblujeans]

Now....more details.... I have seen 2 DDS about this tooth. The first DDS said the root was cracked all the way down. The second DDS and the Endodontist (I called him a specialist) say it is not. The Endodontist did a very detailed film (not an x-ray, but I don't know what it was) and did the root canal. The second DDS did the crown. I asked to have the tooth pulled with both DDS but they insist, "for the health of my mouth", that I need to keep a tooth in that spot. I was told by both DDS that if they pulled it, I had to have a replacement tooth put in. I didn't want that so the second DDS talked me into having the root canal and crown. We don't have dental insurance and I just want that tooth pulled! I do really well at tolerating any type of pain BUT head pain! Migraines and toothaches do me in!!

I can't help but wonder if the tooth root IS cracked and maybe the root goes up into the sinus cavity. They say no, but, I still wonder. I am wondering if everytime I get a sinus infection, or cold, etc., if infection around the tooth root is inflaming....OR, if infection at the base of the tooth root is causing sinus infections when inflamed by a cold.....or something! I am just ready to have that tooth pulled and move on....

I appreciate all of the posted input! I can tell you really understand what I am going through. Thanks!!

 

[mtblujeans]

I went to the DDS today and had x-rays. The tooth is loose and the rocking around in there is causing jaw bone degeneration. There is puss and infection in that socket and they still don't know what is wrong. NOW, they are telling me the tooth must be pulled...which is what I asked for a year ago! They are telling me we won't know what is wrong in there until the tooth comes out. They tell me I need a bone graft and I should go to a specialist a couple of hours away for the procedures (we are, after all, rural)! The root of that tooth goes up into the sinus cavity, which is what I suspected, and I wonder if, every time I get a sinus infection, the infection enters the root socket!

Oh, what fun....makes me want to have candy tonight.....NOT!

 

[minnie56]

I say get the tooth out and hopefully all your troubles will go with it!!!

Sometimes, there's no rhyme or reason, but a tooth just will not settle. Good Luck! I have been where you are...

 

[arminnie]

It sounds like you may need an apicoectomy. I had a root canal a couple of years ago. This year I developed swelling at the base of this tooth. My dentist sent me to a specialist for an apicoectomy. Not a lot of fun, that's for sure. Below is a link for more info.

http://www.austinoms.com/apicoectomy.htm

I had the same thing. I was getting ready to post when I saw this. Never knew the name of it.

I had a root canal and crown - still had pain. My dentist sent me to the specialist (endodondist or something like that). He cut through the gum to get to the tip of the tooth.

Some times after a root canal there is still a little bit of nerve left back up in the tip of the root.

I don't remember it being that bad. I think I stayed home from work for a day or two but that was mostly because I HATED my job at the time and would do anything to not be there.

I did have stitches in the gum. It's been some time. It took care of the problem.

 

[mtblujeans]

Yes, after the info posted on this thread, I was trying to prepare myself for the procedure but just could not wrap my head around that! I would rather have it pulled....now I have to talk DH into it. We don't have insurance and he has already spent alot of $$$ on that one tooth....

 

[mamajoan]

must be the day for root canals and crowns...



Last night my gold crown came off with some carmel.. bummer.. no pain thank goodness!

so I went to a new dentist.. ( we moved to a new city)

he says I may need a root canal because there is alot of decay under the old crown.. ... bummer...

can't use the old crown.. bummer

gonna cost $1500 if he has to do root canal and a new crown... bummer


It is the last tooth on the Left upper....I was thinking about just getting the bugger pulled out....it's gotta be cheaper...


geez louise.....

 

[mtblujeans]

Pssst....If he keeps the gold crown, ask him to credit you for the value of the gold!

I had wanted to have this tooth pulled and not do anything more with it....but DDS explained that, as most people think the teeth will just shift when a tooth is removed, they don't. She said the other teeth will fall into the socket rather than just move over....which causes even more problems! **sigh** Just FYI....

 

[mommytotwo]

 

[allie&mattsmom]

Ugh! Sounds like not a lot of fun you've been havin' lately! I can relate however, as I'm off the the endo...whatever they're called, tomorrow for a root canal myself! It will be my first and I'm really freaking out about it, to the point I feel sick to my stomach. I hate going to dentists! (no offense Dentists ) What I'm really scared about is they aren't even sure if the root canal will work. I may have a fractured root which they won't know till they start the root canal . I just want to get it over with. Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack the thread. Good luck mtblujeans and I hope things work out for you and you feel better!

 

[minnie56]

An Endodontist is the ONLY way to go! They do this every day, all day...so it is uneventful! I had root resectioning (where they make an incision at the tip of the root through the gum)to see the root of a tooth and it was cracked necessitating the removal of it ultimately, and I felt nothing!

Don't worry allie&mattsmom and you hang in there too
mtblujeans! Better days ahead!

 

[mtblujeans]

**sigh** Thanks!

allie&mattsmom....don't worry! Your root canal may be the easiest part of the whole thing!

 

[mtblujeans]

I am going to post this information for those dental people and students that might be interested....

I had an appt with a M.S. specialist in periodontology (2 hours away) yesterday. I am going to post what I understand about my jaw....there was alot of information! That tooth is cracked in a spiral-type break and infection is still coming from the tooth, even though I have had a root canal. The jaw bone (they referred to it as the face plate) has deteriorated almost to the sinus cavity. They want me to come back and pull that tooth right away. Then, after healing for 4 to 6 months, he wants to begin the implanting of a tooth if the bone in the face plate has regenerated enough to hold an implant.

If he still feels that an implant is appropriate, and if the bone has not regenerated, he wants to do some bone grafting; either from a tissue bank or from my own jaw bone back where my wisdom tooth has been removed and there is healthy bone.

My situation is unique, and he has some concern, because the root extends up into the sinus cavity. He will have to put a patch into the socket after tooth extraction so that the possible sinus tear will heal and the blood clot will form and heal properly.

He feels that this all might have come about because I 'grit' my teeth. My body handles tension and stress differently since being in a couple of car accidents....I didn't used to do that! He wants me to use a 'teeth guard' to cut down on the pressure of my biting down too hard and possibly breaking more teeth.

 

[EthansMom]

mtblujeans,

I'm sorry to hear you're going through all of this. I had to have a root canal about three weeks ago. I've had to have my bite adjusted once since then to help with pain and the tooth is still bothering me a little bit.

I have an appointment to get my crown in January.

I'll be thinking of you!

 

[mtblujeans]

Oh, thanks! I appreciate your support and I hope you are feeling much better very soon!!

I want to let everyone know that this is a really unusual situation and is not the norn for a root canal. I have had other root canals with no problem at all.