Orthoptera,
Thank you for providing the additional information.
So to reiterate, tooth #10 was root canaled twice within 2 year period, it broke 2 years later and then abscessed. You had a dental implant placed which failed soon there after and then a second attempt at the graft and implant was done recently. You have had on going symptoms of an "infection" for a few years and have been prescribed antibiotics.
What that history generally indicates is that tooth #10 had been actively infected since at least 2009/2010 as a re-treatment of a second root canal procedure does not favorably alter the bacterial infection inside the dentin tubules. So between 2009 and 2014 the bacteria was spreading from the dentin tubules into the jaw bone.
You stated << The gum tissue above the site (ventral to me) was very thin, and I could kinda see the graft through it.>>
This finding indicates, just as you have suspected, a void in the bone which is referred to as bone loss and it is due to the long term presence of the infected tooth. The bony cartilage above the upper anterior teeth, #'s 7-10, is much thinner compared to other areas of the maxilla. Once the buccal plate or portion of this area of bone is lost, there is nothing more than thin gum tissue in it's place. Bone grafting material that is placed in an area where the buccal plate is gone is only being held in by lingual bone and gum tissue. This situation is not very stable as the purpose of the graft is to encourage your own bone cells to grow and integrate with the graft to form a more dense platform to place the dental implant into. However, bone cannot grow in or from gum tissue. This is likely the reason the first implant failed and to be honest it is heroic to attempt it again as the circumstances of the original bone loss has not changed.
It sounds like your dentist was wanting you to baby this area due to the delicate nature of the situation and the high probability of failure. However, in all probability hitting it with the water pik did not cause anything to fail but it may have just sped up the process. Taking the antibiotic can reduce the inflammation in that area but it cannot aid in the growth of new bone.
You mentioned gut microbiome so I assume you are aware that antibiotics destroy the healthy intestinal flora. If you decide to take the meds, or even if you don't, please consider supplementing with a probiotic to replenish some good bacteria in your intestinal tract.
Wish I could be more of a help. Your dental situation is not an easy one to restore with a dental implant as there is no fail proof way of rebuilding the buccal portion of the bone that was lost from the tooth infection.
I assume you are wearing a removable partial?
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orthoptera
Hi Bryanna, thanks for the fast reply.
Yes, it was root canaled twice. The first time was in late 2009 or early 2010. It was then re-root canaled in early 2012. (I did not have an apicoectomy.)
Later, in spring of 2014, it broke. I was traveling at the time and by the time I saw the dentist to have an extraction, it had an abscess. Needless to say, there's not a whole lot of bone in the site. (Hence having this graft).
BTW, I'm only 26 years old, if that makes any difference in the matter.
Could taking the antibiotic actually help clear out the infection, or would it only help keep it in check until the graft is removed?
I have had a lot of antibiotics for this past couple years, and am very worried for the health of my gut microbiome. I've started to become scared/hesitant of taking antibiotics, so I guess the question is, if I DID wait to have it checked out first, just to make sure... would that make a big difference?
Yeah I've wondered if I have some kind of lingering infection in the area since I keep having all these problems. However, the timing of the waterpic slip-up last night and these symptoms seems WAY too perfect for it to not have something to do with it. It seemed completely infection-free yesterday.
Hope this is enough info, thanks again for your time.
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