I have infection under a tooth that has had a root canal and crown and the dentist told me it wasn't bad that he would keep an eye on it but my tooth feels like it not there and sometimes I can't chew on it. He said I could go and see an oral surgeon but doesn't think it bad enough for that. Would an antibiotic clean up the infection or is there something I could do so it doesn't get worse or make it feel better?

Hi KJay,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.

The infection is coming from the tooth which means the tooth is infected, not just the area below it. The area below the tooth is the jaw bone and anytime there is infection in any bone, it is never wise to just "keep an eye on it".

Antibiotics will not "cure" the infection because the bacteria that is causing the infection will still be living inside of the microscopic canals inside of the tooth. Because there is no way to clean or reach these canals to remove the dead infected nerve tissue, this tooth will always be infected.

The only way to "cure" the infection is to remove the source of the infection which is the tooth. It is also best to remove this tooth before the infection spreads any further into the bone and causes further complications.

It is also wise to see an oral surgeon for the removal of this tooth and not a general dentist.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Good Luck!
Bryanna

Hello Bryanna, many thanks for taking the time to answer these questions! It's quite reassuring to read these replies. Thank you for all you do!

I have one question regarding my (now infected) root canal on #3.

On my x rays, the doctor said I am losing a little bone density in a small spot below the tooth, and that the roots of the tooth might be in my sinus cavity.

Based on these two factors, what do you recommend I do in terms of treating the tooth? No question that tooth will be pulled, my concern is whether it would be better to do an implant after the bone has healed or whether something else is required. Thank you for your advice. I really appreciate it!

Hi Gordon,

Well thank you for the kind words

Okay so tooth #3.... root canaled....

Radio-graphic bone loss at the apex (root of the tooth).... typically seen with root canaled teeth. It is indicative of the bacteria causing the bone to deteriorate and because the xray is only 2 dimensional, the area may be larger than what appears on the film.

Tooth #3 is your upper right first molar. It is common for the roots of the posterior teeth to be in close proximity to the sinus membrane and sometimes actually in communication with the sinus.

I would suggest that you see an oral surgeon for the removal of #3 and not a general dentist.... unless that dentist has extensive training and experience in removing posterior teeth and repairing the sinus. Otherwise, if the sinus is involved, the OS will have better experience with treating it.

I would not suggest to do an immediate implant if the sinus is involved and/or the infection is deeper than what it appears on the x-ray. The risk of infection and implant failure is too great.

Discuss bone grafting with the OS to be done at the time of the removal of the tooth. Get his opinion on whether he feels that would be beneficial to you. He may not be able to give you a definite answer until he extracts the tooth and sees what's actually there.

It is usually best to wait 3-6 months after the extraction to place the dental implant. In some cases it is better to wait a bit longer. It all depends on what is found at the time of the extraction of the tooth.

In the interim healing phase of the extraction do nothing. Leave the space free and open, undisturbed. Avoid eating on it until the site has closed over. If you have an existing partial denture, a tooth could be added to that appliance to fill in the gap. If not, you could have a small one tooth appliance made called a nesbit... but that is to be worn for esthetics and to keep the space open.. not meant to be used for chewing purposes because it is small and can be swallowed or choked on with the food.

I hope that I have answered your questions.... let me know if you have any others!

Bryanna

Hi,

I am new to this forum. I really appreciate the way Bryanna is helping out needy people here. Great work and Thanks a lot for that.

I had RCT done on one of my teeth around 10 years back. Now i am having infection for my RCT tooth (Lower left). Even-though tooth is not painful, but gum is bulging out there. I have attached RVG taken for my tooth. Can please suggest me what is the best solution to my problem?

Thank you.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Manna,

I replied to your other post.

Bryanna

Thanks a ton....

mouth for a while. . . .the best to everyone else!!!!!

Hi Bryanna,
I just found this site, and you sound really knowledgeable. I have been having health problems for while, which have gone into my nervous system, and my best guess up till now, has been that they are related to chronic lyme disease. (I had a tick bite that remained red for a year, and I got sick around that time. However, tests were negative. Antibiotics helped but never totally cleared up my symptoms, so I have been trying with herbs and other naturopathic remedies)

But things are pretty bad now, and I am wondering about a different hypothesis. I just heard a friend's story about her long term chronic health problems (in her case bad migraines), which she finally discovered were due to infections underneath root canals. She had her root canaled teeth removed, and they cleaned out a lot of diseased toxic stuff under there, and her headaches went away. She sent me a link which alerted to me to the fact that there are often hidden infections underneath root canals, and which can lead to a variety of health problems, including neurological issues. Right now I feel like I have a permanent feeling of some kind of infection -- almost like I am drunk, tired, achy, and I have neuropathy in my hands and feet. ( I do not have diabetes-- been checked.)

I have one root canal, and it's been in the years since I had it that I have been feeling worse, which is also the same time period since I had the tick bite. But I have not had any particular teeth problems. How could I tell if I have an infection under my root canal?

thanks,
john

Hi John,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some help here.

First as you have already learned on your own, root canaled teeth are a frequent source of toxic bacteria. Because it is not possible to remove all of the diseased nerve tissue from the microscopic canals, root canaled teeth are chronically infected. So the infection that is often seen on the xray of a root canaled tooth appears to be underneath the tooth. However that darkened area does not mean the tooth is healthy and the infection is limited to just that spot. It means the tooth is over whelmed with bacteria and it is spreading beyond the tooth. I just want you to be clear on that. When the tooth is removed, the oral surgeon is suppose to then thoroughly debride (scrape out) the diseased tissue, cysts and bone. That is what your friend described to you.

Regarding your tooth.... irrelevant of whether the xray shows an area underneath or not, all root canaled teeth are diseased as I have explained above.

You do not have to have oral pain or other tooth related symptoms with an infected tooth. Again, all rc teeth are infected irrelevant of symptoms.

Anytime you become ill with a chronic or undiagnosed condition such as Lyme disease your immune system is going to be strained. Because the body knows where the weak areas are (ex: root canaled teeth) it is not uncommon to have a systemic consequence or complication due to the original infection. Meaning your tooth could be contributing to your overall ill health and may actually be what is preventing your immune system from dealing with the Lymes. All infections in the body will become friendly with each other..... like a symphony.

I would suggest that you see your dentist for evaluation of this tooth. However, I warn you that if he does not see clear evidence of an area underneath the tooth, he will probably tell you the tooth is fine because most dentists only look for obvious pathology even though they know that rc teeth are chronically problematic. It is then up to you to decide if you feel this tooth is a contributing factor to your ill health.

I would also suggest that if you decide to have this tooth removed, that you only see an oral surgeon for the removal as they are often better equipped to remove rc teeth. Make sure he knows that you want all diseased tissue and bone removed after her removes the tooth. This is suppose to be done every time without question...... unfortunately it is not.

The other thing is the Lyme.... I think it may behoove you to retest for Lyme disease. See a specialist if at all possible because there are specific tests that only they know to do.

I'm sorry you are feeling so poorly. I urge you to move forward with this tooth and the Lyme dr as soon as you can. Please check back with us and always feel free to ask your questions here.

Bryanna