Hi HockeyMom,

I am going to re post some of your thread and answer you in bold type. It just makes it easier to follow.

<<In 2013, I had two cracked fillings (#5 & #14) replaced and ended up with TN.>>

WERE THE ORIGINAL FILLINGS SILVER COLORED (MERCURY) FILLINGS? DO YOU REMEMBER IF THE DENTIST JUST DRILLED THE FILLINGS OUT OR DID HE FOLLOW THE BIOLOGICAL SAFETY PROTOCOL? ALSO, WAS THERE ANY INDICATION OF TN PRIOR TO REPLACING THOSE FILLINGS? DID YOU SEE THE DENTIST AFTER THE FILLINGS FOR ANY BITE ADJUSTMENST?

<<I saw a specialist who told me that I would eventually need root canals and I've been able to hold off until now. I was diagnosed with root sensitivity, irreversible pulpitis along with a fracture in #14.>>

WHAT TYPE OF SPECIALIST DID YOU SEE, AN ENDODONTIST?
ROOT SENSITIVITY DOES NOT WARRANT A ROOT CANAL, HOWEVER, IT DOES INDICATE POSSIBLE GUM TISSUE RECESSION WHICH IS PROGRESSIVE IF THE CULPRIT OF THE PROBLEM IS NOT DIAGNOSED.
IRREVERSIBLE PULPITIS MEANS THE NERVES ARE INFLAMED AND BACTERIA IS SETTLING IN.
FRACTURED TEETH CAN SOMETIMES BECOME FUNCTIONAL IF THEY ARE COVERED BY A CROWN.
IF THE PULP IS INFECTED AND/OR THE FRACTURE IS BELOW THE GUM LINE AND/OR IS DEEP INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE TOOTH, THEN A CROWN OR A ROOT CANAL IS NOT GOING TO PREVENT FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TOOTH.

<<I also have CRPS and needless to say, I am very nervous about seeing the endodontist next week.>>

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD CRPS AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CAUSE OF IT IS?

<< I have been able to keep the pain under control with medication until a month ago when a hard bump appeared in the gum.>>

THE PAIN MEDS ARE SIMPLY COVERING THE SYMPTOMS. AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, PULPITIS AND CERTAIN FRACTURES IN TEETH WILL GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND OBVIOUSLY THE INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION IS PROGRESSING. THE BUMP CAN BE A CYST OR THE FORMATION OF A HARD FISTULA.

<< I want to make sure I provide the endodontist with information on both TN and CRPS. Is there any documentation that I could share with them?>>

THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENDODONTIST IS MOST LIKELY GOING TO TRY TO SELL YOU ON ROOT CANAL THERAPY IRRELEVANT OF YOUR CRPS AND TN. WHY? BECAUSE HE MAY NOT REALLY CONSIDER ANY ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ROOT CANALED TEETH AND THOSE ISSUES SIMPLY BECAUSE HIS LIVELIHOOD IS PERFORMING ENDODONTIC THERAPY AND HE KNOWS THAT THE TEETH CAN ALWAYS BE REMOVED AT SOME POINT. THERE IS PLENTY OF INFORMATION CIRCULATING ABOUT SYSTEMIC HEALTH AND NON VITAL TEETH BUT IT IS COMPLICATED AND MOSTLY WRITTEN FOR THE EYES OF DENTAL AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR EXACT CONCERNS ARE OTHER THAN THE CRPS AND TN OR IF YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SYSTEMIC CONSEQUENCES OF RETAINING NON VITAL (RC) TEETH. SO HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DISCUSS WITH THE ENDODONTIST THAT MAY OFFER YOU ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AS TO HOW YOU ARE MOST COMFORTABLE PROCEEDING:

1) DOES A ROOT CANAL TREATMENT GUARANTEE THAT THE TEETH WILL BE HEALTHY AGAIN?
2) ARE ROOT CANALED TEETH STERILE AND COMPLETELY FREE OF BACTERIA?
3) DO TEETH NEED LIVE NERVES TO KEEP THEM FROM BECOMING VULNERABLE TO INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION?
4) WHAT IS THIS BUMP ON MY GUM AND WHAT CAUSED IT?
5) WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TISSUE AND BONE AROUND THE RC TOOTH IF THE TOOTH IS NOT ALIVE?
6) HOW WILL NON VITAL TEETH AFFECT MY CRPS AND TN?

I know this is a very difficult thing for you to go through. Keep in mind that retaining non vital teeth is similar to having a body part that has no circulation. Eventually the lack of blood supply in any affected area will affect areas beyond the original one. Extracting infected teeth have systemic risks also but extraction is the only way to remove the source of the infection. So you have to weigh out the information that you learn with what you feel is in your best interest. I'm sorry there is no easy answer here.

Perhaps before you make any decisions, you would consider consulting with a biological dentist as this is a dentist who considers how the teeth are intricately connected to the rest of the body. You can go to iaomt.org for a listing of these dentists and look for one near you.

I wish I could offer you more specific information but what you are seeking is just not readily available to the public.