Hi Mylilelar,

An oral fistula from a tooth infection is visible on the gum above the tooth. It looks like a pimple. Do you have that? This is one of the tell tale signs that the infection has spread from the tooth into the jawbone. But it does not always occur even when the infection has spread.

It is not surprising that this tooth is hurting you. Most people are under the impression that once a tooth is root canaled it is healthy again. However, this could not be farther from the truth. Root canaled teeth will always harbor infected nerve material because it is not possible to remove all of it from the microscopic canals. Root canal therapy is done so a person can keep their tooth for an undetermined amount of time. But the procedure does not cure the infection and the tooth eventually needs to be removed. Placing a post inside of a tooth is done to give the tooth retention as in make it more of a solid piece. However, teeth are not meant to be so rigid so the post actually causes various fractures to occur leading to further inflammation and infection within the tooth. All of this bacteria and inflammation spreads from the tooth, into the periodontal ligament that holds the tooth in the bone and then eventually into the bone itself. Unfortunately, this is the eventual path of root canaled teeth.

The only way to cure the problem and the infection is to remove the tooth. A re treatment with another root canal or a surgical root canal called an apicoectomy will not alter the infection status inside of the tooth. The path of deterioration remains the same.

I'm sorry to inform you of this now that you have already gone through the procedures. If your dentists didn't inform you prior, then perhaps they should have as you have the right to be properly informed.

Please check back with us ok...
Bryanna