Hi dwnjef,
I will re-post your questions and answer you in bold type.
<<Oral surgeon indicated that the tooth was extremely infected (not sure why, had several rounds of antibiotics, but whatever). >>
ALL ROOT CANALED TEETH ARE CHRONICALLY INFECTED AS THERE IS ALWAYS NECROTIC NERVE TISSUE STILL RESIDING INSIDE OF THE TOOTH. EVERY DENTIST IS AWARE OF THIS BUT THE INFORMATION IS USUALLY NOT SHARED WITH THE PATIENT BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THE RC PROCEDURE. SO YOUR OS WAS CORRECT... THE TOOTH WAS INFECTED.
<<Is it possible that my extraction of tooth #14 caused the infection in tooth # 13 (which doesn't even have a filing in it to date);>>
NO. IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THAT YOUR INFECTED #14 TOOTH INFECTED #13. ORAL INFECTIONS IN THE JAW BONE, WHICH IS WHAT A TOOTH INFECTION IS, COMMONLY SPREADS TO THE ADJACENT TEETH. INFECTED TEETH DO NOT HAVE TO DISPLAY SYMPTOMS UNTIL THE INFECTION IS SEVERE.
<<2) Is my implant where tooth #14 was potentially comprised because of the infection now in tooth #13 >>
FIRST OF ALL YOUR DENTAL IMPLANT IS COMPROMISED DUE TO THE LONG STANDING INFECTION WITH TOOTH #14, THE TOOTH THAT THE IMPLANT HAS REPLACED. WHY? BECAUSE THE INFECTION OF THAT TOOTH WAS IN THE JAW BONE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO BE SURE THAT THE BONE IS CLEAR OF INFECTION. IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANYTIME YOU PLACE A DENTAL IMPLANT IN AN AREA NEXT TO AN INFECTED AND/OR ROOT CANALED TOOTH THE LONGEVITY OF THAT IMPLANT IS COMPROMISED DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE SPREAD OF INFECTION FROM THAT INFECTED TOOTH.
<<3) what should I do at this point to prevent losing anymore teeth>>
IT IS NOT IDEAL TO RETAIN INFECTED TEETH, THIS INCLUDES ROOT CANALED TEETH. REMOVING INFECTED TEETH PREVENTS THE SPREAD OF INFECTION WHICH OTHERWISE COULD LEAD TO NUMEROUS DENTAL PROBLEMS.
I am sorry if you have not been informed of this information from any of your dentists prior to now. It is not uncommon for dentists to not disclose this information until they are questioned about it.
I know this is not the information you were hoping to hear but I hope it has been helpful to you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dwnjef
I am at my wits end over what I see as the inevitable loss of several teeth with no end in sight. I had a root canal on tooth # 14 by an endodontist five years ago. Last year, I started to have pain in this tooth and was told that it had abscessed and I could have an apico or a second root canal. I returned to the endodontist and opted for the second root canal. Soon after, I was told that this procedure did not work and the tooth would need to be extracted. So, I set up an appt. with an oral surgeon and have the tooth extracted.
Oral surgeon indicated that the tooth was extremely infected (not sure why, had several rounds of antibiotics, but whatever). Tooth is removed in January 2014 with seemingly no issue. Between February and May of 2014, I start having pain in tooth #13. At one point, the pain is so bad I cannot chew at all on this tooth. I visit my regular dentist, on 3 separate occasions (x ray taken one time), to be told that everything looks fine and my teeth must be shifting so I should schedule a bridge or implant appointment ASAP. I schedule an appt. with a different dentist for an implant and have the implant placed in June 2014. At my follow up implant appt. I mention that tooth # 13 continues to be sensitive - no longer painful, but definitely sensitive. The implant dentist does an xray and says, of course #13 is sensitive---it's infected and likely in need of a root canal!! He gave me antibiotics, which seemed to make no difference whatsoever, and is proceeding with fitting my implant with an abutment while watching the infection in tooth #13.
I am worried for a variety of reasons. I'd like to know1) Is it possible that my extraction of tooth #14 caused the infection in tooth # 13 (which doesn't even have a filing in it to date); 2) Is my implant where tooth #14 was potentially comprised because of the infection now in tooth #13 3) what should I do at this point to prevent losing anymore teeth???
Thank you
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