Hi SLeeper,
So sorry to hear your wife is having a toothache. Typically, all root canaled teeth will eventually show signs of infection. In your wifes case, her tooth may also be fractured. Something to think about....... If the dentist didn't think there was anything wrong with her tooth, why did he prescribe antibiotics? They frequently do this because they cannot identify any clinical or radiographic pathology, but they know something is brewing. The antibiotic may subside the symptoms temporarily, but the infection in a the tooth will not be cured and it will flare up again.
I see countless patients with your wifes symptoms........ she may have some form of neuralgia beginning, but there is a good possibility that it is caused by that root canaled tooth or a different infected tooth in that area. Frequently an infection spreads from one tooth to another or one area of the mouth to another. Unfortunately, the infection is usually silent until the inflammation starts to put pressure on the periodontal ligaments......that's when the tooth or area starts to hurt.
When there is an infection in a tooth and it has proliferated into the bone surrounding the tooth, which typically happens to root canaled teeth, the painful area will mimic facial neuralgia. Radiographs are just 2 dimensional pictures so they are only helpful to a point. A dental panoramic film shows a different angle of the upper and lower jaws on the same film and this type of xray can be more diagnostic than a routine periapical or bitewing xray.
She could have an CT Scan or MRI done, but it would have to be specific for dental anatomy showing various slices of the jawbone to be able to pick up any abnormality.
Generally, the only solution that cures the pain completely is removal of the infected (root canaled) tooth along with the periodontal ligament that holds the tooth in the jawbone. It has been my professional experience that the earlier the offending tooth is removed the more successful the outcome.
Please let us know how she is doing.
Bryanna
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSleeper
My wife is suffering from mouth pain in an area where she had a root canal done years ago, the pain is severe. She has been to a dentist and an endodontics? they cannot find a problem, every thing appears to be normal, although they did prescribe an anti-biotic and pain reliever.
They now want her to see a neurologist? Normal procedure? any one have any clues? The comment made was nerve damage or possible stress? Would this mean a mri needs to be done?
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