Thanks for the explanation, Bryanna, I apppreciate it.
Hmmm, I am pretty sure he said that my root was basically so long and had a bend at the end, where it reached into soft tissue/cheek tissue... I do not know if something like that is even possible?? He then said that the filling (of the root canal) was basically leaking out of the root tip and into the soft tissue, causing discomfort and infection. He explained that it would have been totally impossible to retain such a tooth because of how my root was shaped. The sucky part is, that I also suffer from TMJ, and it sometimes is quite confusing trying to differentiate the discomfort from that, from any other issues. Oh, the manigfold issues we can have with our bodies!!
I will ask for thorough Xrays tomorrow. I almost hope that something will be found, because then at least I would know where my issues come from. It sucks so much trying to figure out what is going on. I will report back tomorrow after my appt.
Thanks again!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bryanna
Meera,
Is it possible that the dentist who removed the tooth was making reference to the infection at the tip of the root and not actually the root itself? Because the tooth was completely formed so the root was not able to "grow" any further. Perhaps he said something like <<the infection at the tip of the root is growing into the tissue towards the cheek>>?? Something like that frequently occurs from root canaled teeth and is not always visible until the tooth is removed. That type of infection is a cyst of lumpy tissue that is attached to the end of the root on one end and the other end adheres itself to the soft tissue underneath the gum tissue. When these are diagnosed, they should be completely scraped out when the tooth is removed. Sometimes it is very difficult to remove the entire cyst because it may still be attached to the tissue microscopically. Other times the cyst is removed but scar tissue develops, which may or may not be troublesome. Sometimes after the cyst is removed there is a void or permanent indentation in that area of the gum tissue.
Your dentist can take one or two x-rays of that area which could show if there is still pathology in that tissue or bone. He can also palpate around the circumference of that area and feel for any lumps, etc.
Bryanna
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