Hi Muffie,

Glad you found the information helpful!
I will re post your questions and answer you in bold type.

<<Now that the tooth is extracted, will the body heal the infection in the bone?

THE TOOTH WAS THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. SO EXTRACTING THE TOOTH TOOK CARE OF THE SOURCE. IDEALLY, THE SURGICAL SOCKET SHOULD BE SCRAPED CLEAN OF ANY DISEASED TISSUE AND BONE AS SOON AS THE TOOTH IS REMOVED. THIS STEP IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ANY WOUND OR SURGICAL WOUND ANY PLACE IN OR ON THE BODY THAT IS LEFT "UNCLEAN" IS GOING TO STRUGGLE TO HEAL PROPERLY. SO THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC HEALING THAT OCCURS AFTER A TOOTH IS REMOVED... THE SITE NEEDS TO BE CLEAN OF DISEASED TISSUE FOR COMPLETE HEALING TO OCCUR.


<<So is it safe to assume people who oil pull and say their avoided root canal either did not have infection or they are temporarily masking the issue?>>

OIL PULLING IS VERY THERAPEUTIC FOR ORAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY THE GUM TISSUE. COCONUT OIL HAS SOME THERAPEUTIC VALUE ON REMINERALIZING THE ENAMEL IF TOOTH DECAY IS IN VERY, SHALLOW AND IN THE EARLY STAGE.

BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS WHY OIL PULLING WILL HAVE NO AFFECT ON AN INFECTED TOOTH.

ONE) THERE IS NO ACCESS TO THE INFECTED NERVE TISSUE INSIDE OF THE TOOTH VIA MOUTH RINSING.

TWO) THERE IS NO ACCESS TO THE BONE SURROUNDING THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE ROOT OF THE TOOTH VIA MOUTH RINSING.

THREE) EVERY TOOTH HAS MANY HUNDREDS OF CURVY MICROSCOPIC CANALS THAT LINE THE INTERIOR OF THE TOOTH. THESE CANALS CONTAIN NERVE TISSUE WHICH BECOMES DISEASED WHEN THE TOOTH BECOMES INFECTED. EVEN DURING A ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE THESE CANALS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE. SO MOUTH RINSING OR OIL PULLING IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEM EITHER.

FOUR) IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR A TOOTH INFECTION TO CAUSE SORENESS, SWELLING OR PAIN IN THE GUM TISSUE. SOMEONE CAN MISTAKE THE TEMPORARY DECREASE IN SWELLING, SORENESS OR PAIN OF THE GUM TISSUE WHILE DOING THE OIL PULLING AS A CURE OF THE INFECTION.

***AN INFORMATIONAL SIDE NOTE PERTAINING TO A TOOTH INFECTION..... THE PATHOLOGICAL PROGRESSION OF A TOOTH INFECTION CONSISTS OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES AND STRAINS OF BACTERIA. THE LONGER THE BACTERIA IS ALLOWED TO MULTIPLY, THE STRONGER OR MORE PROLIFIC THE INFECTION BECOMES.

<<Can an inflamed ligament repair and heal on its own? Mine did not appear to be happy.>>

AN INFLAMED PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT THAT HAS BECOME DISEASED FROM AN INFECTED TOOTH AND/OR UNRESOLVED PERIODONTAL DISEASE CANNOT REPAIR OR HEAL ON IT'S OWN.

AN INFLAMED PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT CAUSED BY THE MOVEMENT OF TEETH DURING ORTHODONTIA CAN REPAIR AND HEAL ITSELF AS LONG AS THE TRAUMA TO THE LIGAMENT IS SHORT LIVED, NON BACTERIAL AND NOT SEVERE.

<<What I don't understand is why was my body seemed to be handling the drainage and showing no signs of illness prior to root canal and then post root canal, headaches and systemic changes started?>>

PRIOR TO THE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE, THE BACTERIA INSIDE THE TOOTH ATE THROUGH THE TIP OF THE ROOT AND PRODUCED A SWELLING, A CYST OF INFECTION, (THAT BLACK AREA ABOVE ROOT). BACTERIA WAS ABLE TO DRAIN FROM THE TOOTH THROUGH THAT CYST PREVENTING THE ACCUMULATION OF BACTERIA IN JUST ONE AREA. SOMETIMES THE CYST OR THE OPENING WILL CLOSE OFF AND THE AREA WILL SWELL UP OR A FISTULA WILL FORM.

IN MOST PEOPLE, THE IMMUNE SYSTEM BECOMES ALERTED TO AREAS OF INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION AND IT SENDS REPAIR CELLS TO THAT AREA. THESE CELLS TRY TO RUN INTERFERENCE BY ALLOWING DRAINAGE TO OCCUR WHICH CAN TEMPORARILY PREVENT OR MINIMIZE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS. ONCE THE DRAINAGE OPENING CLOSES OFF, OR THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NO LONGER WILLING OR ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, THE SYMPTOMS OF THE INFECTION BECOME APPARENT.

THE TRAUMA AND INFLAMMATION CAUSED BY THE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE, THE ACCIDENTAL PERFORATION OF THE TOOTH DURING THE RC PROCEDURE ALLOWING BACTERIA AND TOXINS TO ENTER A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE TISSUE/ BONE, ALONG WITH THE ORIGINAL TRAUMA FRACTURING THE TOOTH THE TOOTH WERE ALL TOO MUCH FOR YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO HANDLE. THUS THE ONSET OF THE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS.

<<Thanks for the education on probiotics.>>

YOU ARE WELCOME. PROBIOTICS MAKE THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN THE HEALTH OF OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.

<<Yes. Saw cardiologist and he pretty much said what you noted above and that inflammation and the body fighting infection can present with elevated heart rate and possibly increased blood pressure. Funny, none of the dentists believed this. I am hoping headaches fully resolve soon.>>

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT DENTISTS ARE NOT PHYSICIANS. THEY ARE VARIOUS SKILLED TOOTH CARPENTERS WHOSE EDUCATION HAS FOCUSED ON THE CARPENTRY, NOT THE PATIENTS HEALTH. MAINSTREAM DENTISTRY FOR THE MOST PART DOES NOT CONNECT THE TEETH TO OUR OVERALL HEALTH. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A BIT SILLY BUT IT'S THAT WAY IT IS. I AM GLAD THAT YOUR CARDIOLOGIST HAS BEEN UPFRONT WITH YOU WITH THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONNECTION.

<<He did. In fact when I spoke with him he said he goes past the tip of the root to stimulate tissue, break up cyst if forming, and promote healing. First I had heard of that. Could this have contributed to systemic responses I experienced?>>

IN MY 36 YEARS IN THE DENTAL PROFESSION, I HAVE ONLY KNOWN OR HEARD OF A HANDFUL OF DENTISTS WHO BELIEVE OR SAY THEY BELIEVE THAT PERFORATING THE APEX (ROOT TIP) OF THE TOOTH DURING THE RC PROCEDURE IS ADVANTAGEOUS. NEVER HAS THAT "BOO-BOO" BEEN PROVEN TO BE THERAPEUTIC. COMMON SENSE TRULY TELLS US THAT PUSHING A FOREIGN TOXIC MATERIAL INTO LIVE TISSUE AND BONE WHERE THERE IS INFECTION BREWING IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO CAUSE AN UNFAVORABLE SYSTEMIC REACTION. THUS YOUR HEADACHES, ETC.

<<This is a clinic that has orofacial pain specialist and oral surgeons working together. My endo gave me referral to oral surgeon, but the facility decided I should see oral pain doctor first. I spent a month with him not even looking at my x-ray and ignoring my inputs. I was really disturbed by that level of service. I want to followup with but don't want to be labelled and run risk of oral surgeon not wanting to help me through the healing phase.>>

THE CONCLUSION THAT I COME TO WITH THE DELIVERANCE OF POOR QUALITY CARE FROM THE ORAL PAIN DR IS THAT HE WAS MISTAKENLY UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SINCE THE TOOTH WAS ROOT CANALED, YOUR PAIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT TOOTH. AS YOU HAVE LEARNED, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE AT ALL. IF HE HAD LOOKED AT THE XRAY AT THE ONSET HE WOULD HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM.

FOLLOWUP WITH AN ORAL SURGEON, NOT THE ORAL PAIN SPECIALIST. THE SURGEON WHO EXTRACTED YOUR TOOTH, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CONTINUED CARE.

<<He showed it to me when he finished. What I don't understand is this debridement that I read about? (shaving down the bone - my dentist did not do that) He got ligament, granulomas, and sealer material. He took an x-ray post extraction to insure no pieces of bone, sealer material was left. Now that tooth is gone will the bone heal? What if there is some residual infection/inflammation? Will it cause me issues? I assume if there was a periapical cyst that would have been removed upon extraction as well?>>

THE BLACK AREA WAS A CYST AS WELL AS GRANULOMA TISSUE. IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE HE DEBRIDED THE SOCKET AND BONE PRETTY WELL. NOT EVERY CASE NEEDS TO HAVE THE BONE SHAVED DOWN... THAT OCCURS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. USUALLY IN CASES WHERE THE TOOTH HAD BEEN ROOT CANALED YEARS PRIOR AND/OR THERE WAS PERIODONTAL DISEASE PRESENT. WHEN THE SURGEON SCRAPES/DEBRIDES THE SURGICAL SOCKET HE CAN FEEL WITH THE INSTRUMENTS WHEN HE IS AGAINST SOLID BONE AND HE CAN TELL THE HEALTH OF THE CLEANED AREA BY THE COLOR, SMELL AND VOLUME OF THE BLOOD. IF THE AREA FEELS MUSHY OR SMELLS BAD, OR THE BLOOD IS DARK AND NOT VOLUMINOUS, THEN HE KNOWS HE HAS MORE WORK TO DO.

IT IS ALSO A GOOD SIGN THAT HE TOOK A POST OP XRAY AFTER HE REMOVED THE TOOTH AND DEBRIDED THE BONE. THIS TELLS ME THAT HE WAS THOROUGH IN HIS CARE AND KNEW THAT HE HAD TO GET EVERYTHING VISIBLE OUT. HE KNEW IT WOULD BE BETTER TO GO IN AND CLEAN IT AGAIN AT THAT TIME, RATHER THAN LATER, IF SOMETHING HAD APPEARED ON THE XRAY.

YOU CAN STILL END UP WITH SOME SMALL BONY FRAGMENTS THAT ARE NOT VISIBLE ON THAT XRAY THAT MAY WORK THEIR WAY TO THE GUM SURFACE. BUT YOU WILL KNOW IF THAT OCCURS AND THAT IS NOT UNUSUAL. MOST TIMES THESE TINY SPLINTERS COME OUT ON THEIR OWN, SOMETIMES THEY NEED A LITTLE HELP.

<<I am rinsing with salt water. I do not chew on that side. The soreness is right at the top of the gumline connecting to jaw tissue. I have tried massaging the area with the belief if it is a tight muscle, I will get relief. It helps a little but it must be irritating a nerve because the right side of my tongue will burn or tingle after massaging the sore spot. The soreness actually is a little worse than it was a couple of weeks ago. I want to rule out signs of tissue infection, blister (doesn't appear obvious), or bone issue (since extraction there has been a raised lump over extraction site - dentist says that is bone and normal.>>

I SUGGEST THAT YOU STOP MASSAGING THAT AREA. YOU COULD HAVE SOME IRRITATION TO A BUNDLE OF NERVES EITHER FROM THE INFECTION, THE INFLAMMATION OR THE ANESTHETIC INJECTION. JUST LET IT HEAL, DO NOT TRY TO HURRY UP THE HEALING PROCESS. MOST NERVE IRRITATIONS WILL SUBSIDE ON THEIR OWN IF THEY ARE NOT REPEATEDLY TRAUMATIZED.

<<I will. It doesn't seem from your initial response you sense a high level of concern and that helps me. Based on your response to this note I will be ready for followup visit and will ask the questions you suggest. I just didn't know what could be remaining that would make my mouth so sore in that one spot and would irritate nerves when I massage it? (possible nerve sensitivity??>>

I AM NOT OVERLY CONCERNED AT THIS POINT. BASED ON YOUR DESCRIPTIONS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENDODONIST EXACERBATED THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM BUT THE ORAL SURGEON DID HIS JOB WELL. YES, COULD BE NERVE RELATED AND I THINK THE SYMPTOMS THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU MASSAGE THAT AREA INDICATE TO LEAVE IT ALONE AND LET IT HEAL.

<<Bryanna, I look forward to your response. You are awesome. You don't know how lonely and frustrating it can be when no one seems to listen to you and try to help. Bless you for taking time to make a difference.>>

THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS
I DO UNDERSTAND HOW LONELY AND SCARY IT CAN BE WHEN YOU HAVE A LEGITIMATE PROBLEM AND THOSE YOU HAVE TO TRUST TO TAKE CARE OF YOU, ARE NOT LISTENING OR MANAGING YOUR PROBLEM PROPERLY. YOU HAVE DONE WELL IN PURSUING YOUR SITUATION TO THIS POINT AND ALL YOU CAN DO NOW IS TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF, INCLUDE TAKING THOSE PROBITICS ), AND FOLLOW UP WITH AN XRAY AT THE ORAL SURGEON.

KEEP US POSTED... I'M HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

Bryanna