I have a couple more questions and thank you for the reply, it helped a lot. So if I got that tooth removed, its number 19 btw. second to last one on bottom. How would that work if I wanted a partial denture? Do you have a picture example? Other question is I don't really have any pain associated with the tooth in question. Is that normal if its infected? Third I've recently been having a slight cough type situation going and feel it could have to do with my heart, I have read heart disease can be linked to root canal teeth?

Thank you.

Hi gschultz,

You need to discuss replacement options with your dentist as the options depend on the health of your other teeth and gums as well as what other teeth you may be missing. For informational purposes here is a link that describes different replacement options with photos...
http://doctorspiller.com/partial_dentures.htm

Removable partial dentures generally replace more than one tooth. They can replace teeth on both side of the arch at one time.

A nesbit is a removable appliance that replaces one or two adjacent teeth at the same time.

A fixed bridge is a permanent replacement in which the adjacent teeth to #19 would need to be filed down as they would be the anchor teeth to a 3 unit bridge.

A dental implant can also replace tooth #19 but it is a risky replacement since the tooth has been root canaled because the bacteria from the tooth has already gone into the bone. Removing the tooth removes the source of the infection but there is no guarantee that the bone will ever be completely healthy again. That is the risk that is taken when a root canal is done on any tooth as the bone may never recover completely from the infection.

Regarding the lack of pain or symptoms from tooth #19.... it does not hurt because the bacteria is draining into the bone. Once the bone becomes overwhelmed and/or the inflammation from the infection closes off the area of drainage, then the pain and swelling will likely begin.

The cough that you describe should be evaluated by your physician. Any chronic oral infection... whether it be due to periodontal disease, fractured tooth infection, or root canaled teeth.... can affect the heart and any other vital organ.

Bryanna

Bryanna, I have a similar problem. I have a root canal that was done quite a long time ago, I don't know precisely how long but possibly as much as 20 years. About five or six years ago I was told by my dentist that the restoration covering the root canaled tooth was leaking. I do not know exactly what this means. But my dentist took off the old restoration, which was replaced with a new crown. I remember when he replaced it, he commented that he was correct about it leaking when he looked inside. This makes me wonder what he saw - infection? And if so, I don't know why he did not refer me to an endodontist to discuss retreatment before putting on the crown? I wonder about this now. At the time I was not in pain and it never occurred to me there might be a problem because I didn't know enough about it.

Fast forward to September of 2014. While living overeas I began having gradually worsening tooth pain. I did not know it was the root canaled tooth (back lower molar) that was hurting. I assumed it couldn't hurt since the nerve was gone. It felt like it was the tooth next to it. But the pain was intermittent so I thought it might go away. Instead the pain got much worse to the point I couldn't chew on it at all.

I saw a dentist while overseas., who told me the crown was loose and the gums surrounding it were infected. He said he could tell by looking at the infection it had been there a long time. He acted like it was no problem though. Said he could clean it out and wait awhile to see how I responded. If I wasn't feeling pain he'd know the infection was gone, and put the crown back on. I went back to his office three times over the course of a month for what I now realize were not "cleanings" at all but root canal retreatments. The problem is, he didn't know what he was doing. My pain did reduce, and the gum infection went away, so after the third time, he put the crown back on. Well, as soon as I began chewing on that tooth again, I was in serious pain. He said the tooth was just getting hit too hard and I just needed bite adjustments. Well, over the course of a couple of months I had four or five bite adjustments. The pain never went away and now my bite is a complete mess because of all his adjustments, and I feel general discomfort in all my teeth when I chew. After that last bite adjustment which messed up my bite so much, I did not go back to see him again. I strongly felt there was a deeper problem with the tooth, which he was ignoring. I brought this up to him several times and he always waved it off, saying it was only a bite problem. Crazy.

Now, back in the US, I went to see an endodontist who took and x-ray. He told me that, first, the roots were not cleaned out all the way. They only actually got through about half the length of the root in their cleanings. You can see on the x-ray that the lower halves of the roots are black. Then there is also an area of infection under the tooth, in the bone. He told me the bone has been eaten away by the infection. He would like me to take an antibiotic and then redo the root canal. He thinks once the root canal is done properly and I take the antibiotic, the bone cells will regenerate and the infection will go away.

I asked him, well what if it doesn't go away? He said then he could do an apicoectomy.

I don't know. Although I would like to keep the tooth, I am very concerned right now because I think this tooth has most likely been badly infected for years. I have a lot of chronic unexplained health problems and they have been getting worse in the last few years. Because of this I think I need to think of saving my immune system more than the tooth.

I do not know if all these problems are related to the long lasting tooth infection, but I suspect some of them may be.

First, I have severe pain in my neck on the same side as the root canaled tooth. It always hurts if I turn my neck to that side. Whereas it doesn't hurt on the other side.

As an adult I developed eczema despite never having it as a child.

At the end of 2012 I had to be hospitalized for a vertigo attack and was diagnosed with vestibular neuritis. My sense of balance is still compromised. At the hospital when they did a blood test, they said my white blood cell count was elevated; but the strange thing is I had no infection I know of. No cold, no flu, nothing. I do not know if these is related to the tooth infection, but the balance nerve that was destroyed is on the same side as the rc'd tooth.

Most recently, in November of 2013, around the same time I started seeing the dentist overseas for my tooth pain, I developed alopecia areata. Patches of hair fell out from my scalp and the hair has not grown back. (Researching on the internet, I was able to find one article that linked alopecia areata with tooth infection).

Not long after that I developed constant pain in my urinary tract. All tests came back perfectly normal - no infection, nothing. This went on for three months!

When the dentist I saw overseas said he could tell by looking at the infection that it had been going on for a long time this really got me wondering if some or all of these health issues could be related to this tooth infection. And I am wondering now if my health has been permanently compromised by this tooth.

Though I am nervous about having the tooth extracted, I feel like it is the only course that makes sense in light of so many unexplained health problems. Even if only one or two of these problems improves, it will have been worth it.

I am planning to make an appointment with a biological dentist asap to get a second opinion and ask about extraction.

I've noticed in some of your replies you advise an oral surgeon. I am wondering why this is. Would you also recommend an oral surgeon in my case, or would it be just as well if I had the tooth extracted by a biological dentist?

I'm also wondering if you think some or any of the health issues I've listed could stem from lasting dental infection. I'm particularly interested in any connection with vestibular neuritis. I have tried to research that myself but have not found any articles making a connection. Unfortunately, the causes of vn are not well understood and I am not sure if any research has really been done in an effort to find such a connection in the first place.

Hi clde,

Your dental problem with this rc tooth is typical, not at all unexpected or unusual and yes it could be the cause or a contributing factor to your physical ailments.

When you had the crown redone on this tooth and the dentist mentioned infection, he really could have explained his findings in more detail and offered you the option of retaining an infected tooth or extracting it.

Root canals are done for one reason.... to "retain" teeth. They are not done to cure an infection or make the tooth healthy again. Every tooth has various numbers of large visible canals that can be somewhat manually debrided of nerve tissue. There will always be remnants of nerve tissue left behind in the large canals as the tissue adheres itself to the wall of the canal. There are also hundreds of inaccessible microscopic canals that contain nerve tissue which cannot be cleaned out. As soon as the root canal procedure is started the blood vessel supplying the nerves with nourishment is severed rendering the tooth and it's contents non vital. So any nerve tissue or remnants of nerve tissue still inside of the tooth become necrotic and bacteria sets in. Irrelevant of physical symptoms, the necrosis always renders the tooth chronically infected. Physical symptoms often occur when the bacterial infection has spread beyond the tooth. But even then, if the bacteria has found a place to drain, the symptoms will be sporadic until the opening to the drain is closed off from inflammation.

There are also toxic chemicals used during every root canal procedure. These chemicals are the same or similar to those used during embalming a corpse. The intention of using them is to kill off live cells with whatever it comes in contact with. So because the tooth is not one solid piece but rather permeable, these chemicals eventually make their way through the layers of the tooth and filter through the same path as the bacteria.

So the status of the chronic infection and toxicity will not change irrelevant of how well or how wonderful the rc procedure was done or how many times it is done or if a surgical root canal called an apicoectomy is done. The end result is still inaccessibility to hundreds of tiny canals, dead nerve tissue stuck in places that it cannot be removed from and toxicity.

Also, what your dentists should have informed you of is that the longer you keep an infected tooth, the more likely you are to have a systemic problem that can become difficult to diagnose, treat or eradicate. Anytime there is a chronic bacterial infection anyplace in the body the immune system is going to eventually rebel. Symptoms often show up in major filtering organs like the bladder, the kidney and all the lobes and tubes attached to them as well as the glandular and lymphatic system, the cardiac system, the blood stream, other bones, muscles ... etc.

Other issues you should have been informed of are:

**The infection from this tooth can spread to the adjacent teeth as the blood vessel that feeds those adjacent teeth has infectious toxic bacteria swimming in it.

**The bone loss that has occurred or is going to occur surrounding this tooth. The bacteria spreads from the interior of the tooth, into the periodontal ligament, eventually the bone and very possibly beyond. Once the jaw bone is invaded with the infection, it can be difficult to eradicate it completely because it hides in all the nooks and crannies of the bone. The visibly diseased bone would need to be removed at the time of the extraction and most often you will only achieve a minimal amount of new bone growth during the healing phase. So replacement options are then limited.

There is no question about the infection and toxicity brewing in this tooth for 20 years. So just imagine those things being present for that long anyplace in your body. It is important to know that the mouth is very vascular and the bacteria, both good and bad, that resides in the mouth and jaw bone travels through the bloodstream into every organ of the body.

It may behoove you to seek an evaluation from a biological dentist to become better informed and perhaps he can refer you to an oral surgeon for removal of the tooth. Unless the biological dentist is well experienced in oral surgery, it is best to have an oral surgeon remove this tooth. It is also imperative that you be your own advocate and in doing so, it would behoove you to tell the oral surgeon that you want the tooth and all diseased tissue and bone removed in their entirety. These surgical steps are suppose to be carried out with every tooth extraction, but unfortunately sometimes it's performed more thorough when the patient makes it clear that this is what they expect to happen.

I know I have been very blunt in my response to you but I think you have been jerked around a bit and your dental situation may actually be more severe or urgent than you may realize. So my professional opinion based on the information that you have provided indicates the best approach is to take action sooner than later.

If you have further questions or need some clarifications, please let me know.

Bryanna

Bryanna,

I appreciate your reply. Soon after I received it I went to an oral surgeon and had the tooth extracted.

Looking at records I think I was able to gather somewhat more exact information on the tooth. The original root canal was probably done about 16 years ago. The new crown was put on in 2007. I asked my dentist why if the old crown was leaking, which indicates to me there was visible infection, he did not say anything to me? He said that he didn't say anything because I wasn't in any pain. Personally, I don't really understand this. If I was a doctor and saw infection, I would think I would want to notify the patient! But what this tells me is that dentists must realize root canals are all infected and not be very surprised to see it. The fact he didn't find infection worth mentioning tells me he is used to seeing it and doesn't consider it out of the ordinary.

The oral surgeon who extracted my tooth said two things: "It's squishy" and "the tooth is moosh." What does this mean to you? I know it indicates severe decay, and I'm guessing it also means a "root canal retreatment" would surely have failed, had I opted for that. but I am just wondering how many years it may have been in such a drastically bad state. Keep in mind the first time I felt pain was September 2013, presumably because the roots were removed.

But it looks like I am having a run of bad luck with my teeth here because just two days after this extraction, I am faced with another serious, unexpected problem.

First let me tell you that in my back molar on the opposite side (right side), which was crowned after receiving a filling, I have experienced sensitivity when biting in the past. In fact I went to see the endodontist about that tooth several years back and he told me the symptoms I was having indicated the nerve was dying and recommended a root canal immediately. Well, I didn't want a root canal. So instead I went back to my dentist and asked him to do a bite adjustment to take pressure off that molar. Fortunately that worked and I haven't experienced pain in that tooth for a few years. But recently, since I began having the molar on the left side worked on, and no doubt because I've been chewing more on the right side, the pain when biting in that back right molar has come back.
I will go get it x-rayed but if the x-ray doesn't show decay, I am not sure what to do.

If that isn't bad enough, something else just happened. The second to last molar on the right side, the one next to the sensitive tooth, is a tooth that years back my dentist told me was cracked. There was terrible pain and I ended up getting a root canal. Then a crown was placed by the same dentist who placed the crown which came loose on the root canaled tooth I just had extracted. Well, tonight I was eating and I felt the crown on that tooth *rising* as I chewed. I went to look in the mirror and sure enough the crown is coming up away from the gumline. It did not completely lift off the tooth, it is still on there, but obviously the crown is loose. Which means bacteria can seep in. So I am wondering if this means yet another root canal is compromised? As I said, the same dentist who did the other crown did this crown: both the crowned were on rc'd teeth, and both the crowns have now come loose within a few months of each other.

I can't believe this is has happened two days after my extraction and really feel pretty overwhelmed by it all. I can't imagine going to get another tooth pulled right now, especially another molar on the other side of my mouth, the only side which I can properly chew on right now.

When a root canal is done, does the endo put something additional in there to seal the chamber off? or is the crown the only thing standing between the crown and the bacteria in my mouth?

Would appreciate any advice you can offer about the situation with these two molars on the right side. This is just too much to deal with at one time. Really starting to wish I was a shark.

Hi clde,

I will re-post your questions and answer you in bold. It's just easier to follow that way

<<I asked my dentist why if the old crown was leaking, which indicates to me there was visible infection, he did not say anything to me? He said that he didn't say anything because I wasn't in any pain. Personally, I don't really understand this. If I was a doctor and saw infection, I would think I would want to notify the patient! But what this tells me is that dentists must realize root canals are all infected and not be very surprised to see it. The fact he didn't find infection worth mentioning tells me he is used to seeing it and doesn't consider it out of the ordinary.>>

ANY LOGICAL THINKING PERSON WOULD ASSUME THAT A DENTIST WOULD WITHOUT HESITATION INFORM THEIR PATIENT OF A TOOTH INFECTION IRRELEVANT OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE WERE SYMPTOMS OR NOT. HOWEVER, WHEN IT COMES TO ROOT CANALED TEETH... ALL DENTISTS EXPECT INFECTION TO BE PRESENT IN THESE TEETH JUST AS YOU SAID. SO UNFORTUNATELY NOTHING IS SAID TO THE PATIENT UNTIL THERE IS VISIBLE PATHOLOGY CLINICALLY OR RADIO GRAPHICALLY AND THE PATIENT COMPLAINS ABOUT PAIN OR OTHER SYMPTOMS OF THE INFECTION.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT ROOT CANALS ARE DONE TO ALLOW A PERSON TO RETAIN THEIR UNHEALTHY TOOTH FOR AN UNCERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. THE PROCEDURE IS UNFORTUNATELY MOST OFTEN PRESENTED AS A "CURE" OR AS A WAY TO "SAVE" THE TOOTH WHICH IN MY OPINION IS TRULY MISLEADING. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE WOULD CHOSE TO DO THE RC OVER EXTRACTING THE TOOTH. DENTISTS BELIEVE THEY ARE OFFERING BORROWED TIME BY DOING THE RC. HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT HOW IT IS REPRESENTED TO THE PATIENT NOR ARE THE RISKS OF RETAINING AN INFECTED TOOTH GIVEN TO THE PATIENT.

<<The oral surgeon who extracted my tooth said two things: "It's squishy" and "the tooth is moosh." What does this mean to you? I know it indicates severe decay, and I'm guessing it also means a "root canal retreatment" would surely have failed, had I opted for that. but I am just wondering how many years it may have been in such a drastically bad state. Keep in mind the first time I felt pain was September 2013, presumably because the roots were removed.>>

THOSE TERMS, SQUISHY AND MOOSH ARE A DELICATE WAY OF SAYING.... THE ANATOMY OF THE TOOTH HAS DETERIORATED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS NO LONGER IN A WHOLE STATE. THIS IS BEYOND DECAY. IF A RE TREATMENT HAD BEEN ATTEMPTED, THE INSTRUMENTS WOULD HAVE PERFORATED THE MOOSH AND GONE DIRECTLY INTO THE BONE. JUST TO CLARIFY, THE ROOTS OF THE TOOTH ARE NOT REMOVED DURING A ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE. IT IS THE INTERIOR CANALS OF THE ROOTS THAT ARE SCRAPED WITH INSTRUMENTS TO REMOVE NERVE TISSUE. THE ROOTS ARE REMOVED WHEN THE TOOTH IS EXTRACTED.

<<First let me tell you that in my back molar on the opposite side (right side), which was crowned after receiving a filling, I have experienced sensitivity when biting in the past. In fact I went to see the endodontist about that tooth several years back and he told me the symptoms I was having indicated the nerve was dying and recommended a root canal immediately. Well, I didn't want a root canal. So instead I went back to my dentist and asked him to do a bite adjustment to take pressure off that molar.>>

THE BITE ADJUSTMENT TOOK THIS TOOTH OUT OF OCCLUSION SO YOU WEREN'T USING IT TOO MUCH. IF THE NERVES WERE SLIGHTLY IRRITATED, THEN ADJUSTING THE BITE MAY HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO CALM THINGS DOWN. HOWEVER, THE FACT THAT USING THE TOOTH HAS CAUSED IT TO HURT MAY INDICATE THAT THE NERVES ARE STILL OR AGAIN FLARED UP AND IT MAY BE TIME TO DEAL WITH IT.

<< Fortunately that worked and I haven't experienced pain in that tooth for a few years. But recently, since I began having the molar on the left side worked on, and no doubt because I've been chewing more on the right side, the pain when biting in that back right molar has come back.
I will go get it x-rayed but if the x-ray doesn't show decay, I am not sure what to do.>>

IT IS WISE TO HAVE THE X-RAY DONE ON THIS TOOTH. IF IT DOES SHOW DECAY INTO THE NERVES OR OTHER PATHOLOGY INDICATIVE OF AN INFECTION, THEN YOUR ONLY OPTIONS ARE ROOT CANAL OR EXTRACTION.

<<If that isn't bad enough, something else just happened. The second to last molar on the right side, the one next to the sensitive tooth, is a tooth that years back my dentist told me was cracked. There was terrible pain and I ended up getting a root canal. Then a crown was placed by the same dentist who placed the crown which came loose on the root canaled tooth I just had extracted. Well, tonight I was eating and I felt the crown on that tooth *rising* as I chewed. I went to look in the mirror and sure enough the crown is coming up away from the gumline. It did not completely lift off the tooth, it is still on there, but obviously the crown is loose. Which means bacteria can seep in. So I am wondering if this means yet another root canal is compromised?>>

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BY ANOTHER ROOT CANAL COMPROMISED SINCE ALL ROOT CANALED TEETH ARE INFECTED IRRELEVANT OF THE PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS. THE INFECTION CAN EASILY SPREAD TO THE ADJACENT TEETH AS THE BLOOD VESSELS THAT THEY SHARE PICK UP THE BACTERIA FROM ONE TOOTH AND CARRY IT TO THE OTHERS. A CROWN WILL "RISE UP" ON A TOOTH EITHER BECAUSE THE CEMENT HAS GIVEN WAY AND/OR THERE IS DECAY UNDER THE CROWN AND/OR THERE IS AN INFECTION IN THE BONE THAT HAS PUSHED THE TOOTH UPWARDS.

<<As I said, the same dentist who did the other crown did this crown: both the crowned were on rc'd teeth, and both the crowns have now come loose within a few months of each other.>>

SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THESE TEETH WERE BADLY DETERIORATED AND THERE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TOOTH STRUCTURE TO HOLD A CROWN ON THEM.

<<I can't believe this is has happened two days after my extraction and really feel pretty overwhelmed by it all. I can't imagine going to get another tooth pulled right now, especially another molar on the other side of my mouth, the only side which I can properly chew on right now.>>

YES, THIS IS VERY OVERWHELMING. I DO NOT KNOW YOUR DENTAL HISTORY. BUT IF YOU ONLY SEE A DENTIST WHEN YOU HAVE A PROBLEM THEN YOU CAN EXPECT TO HAVE ONGOING PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS ARE NOT BEING DEALT WITH UNTIL THEY HAVE PROGRESSED. IF YOU DO SEE THIS DENTIST REGULARLY AND YOU ARE HAVING THESE SEVERE PROBLEMS.... THEN EITHER YOU ARE NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS WHEN THEY ARE FIRST DIAGNOSED OR YOUR DENTIST IS NOT DIAGNOSING THEM EARLY ON.

<<When a root canal is done, does the endo put something additional in there to seal the chamber off?>>

DURING THE RC PROCEDURE, THE LARGE VISIBLE INTERIOR CANALS OF THE TOOTH ARE SCRAPED TO REMOVE NERVE TISSUE. THE HUNDREDS OF TINY CANALS ARE INACCESSIBLE SO THEY CONTINUE TO CONTAIN DEAD NERVE TISSUE. THE LARGE CANALS ARE DISINFECTED WITH A TOXIC CHEMICAL AND THEN SOMEWHAT SEALED OFF WITH A LATEX RUBBER LIKE MATERIAL CALLED GUTTA PERCHA. THIS MATERIAL EXPANDS AND THEN SHRINKS OVER TIME. SO WHATEVER AREAS WERE SEALED, EVENTUALLY END UP OPEN.

<< or is the crown the only thing standing between the crown and the bacteria in my mouth?>>

THE CROWN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH BACTERIA ENTERING THE MOUTH. THE CROWN SIMPLY ACTS AS A COVER OVER THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TOOTH THAT STICKS OUT OF THE GUM TO MAKE THE TOOTH FUNCTIONAL FOR CHEWING. THE ENAMEL IS COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THAT PORTION OF THE TOOTH MAKING IT VULNERABLE TO DECAY. SO THE CROWN PROTECTS THOSE EXPOSED AREAS FROM DECAYING.

THE TOOTH SITS IN LIVE BONE AMONGST LIGAMENTS, NERVES AND BLOOD VESSELS WHICH ARE THE AREAS WHERE THE BACTERIA TRAVELS TO FROM THE TOOTH AND INTO THE MOUTH AND BEYOND.

<<Would appreciate any advice you can offer about the situation with these two molars on the right side. This is just too much to deal with at one time. Really starting to wish I was a shark<<

THE BEST THING TO DO IS NOT IGNORE THE PROBLEMS. HAVE THE TEETH XRAYED TO DETERMINE WHAT IS GOING ON.

YEA, SHARKS CAN GROW NEW TEETH, WHICH WOULD BE PRETTY COOL!

Bryanna

Bryanna,

Thanks again for your thoughtful, detailed reply. I appreciate the feedback you are providing here.

To reply to one point you brought up: I do go in for regular check-ups for my teeth. But I've been living overseas most of the time for the last years, so I've not really seen my dentist here - the one who did these crowns - very much.

Also, this particular rc'd tooth did not have decay. It is because my previous dentist said it was cracked and prepped it for a crown, leading to terrible pain, that I got referred for a root canal.

I was able to see the dentist who did the work. I noticed when he took off the crown there was a fairly strong unpleasant smell, but he said there was no infection there. The x-ray also showed no decay in the tooth, and no decay in the sensitive last molar next to it. He cemented the loose crown back on and did a bit of a bite adjustment on the crown for the last molar which with any luck will help the sensitivity. I'll see when I eat.

I know from reading your posts that all rc'd teeth are infected, so I know I will need to think about what to do about this tooth at some point, particularly if I continue to have autoimmune problems. But I guess the good news is right now there was no extra decay visible when the crown was removed and no bone decay visible on the x-ray. So at least I still have some molars to chew on while the extraction site on the other side of my mouth heals.

Despite the fact both crowns he did came loose I still think he is a competent dentist, but I'm not sure I'll go back to him, because of something else that happened during my visit. When I asked him if the appointment would be free of charge, he said, everything but the x-rays. I asked him if the x-rays wouldn't be included since it was trouble with the crowns he did that brought me in. Instead of answering yes or no, he shook his head in a huff and stayed silent. Then a few minutes later made a rather passive aggressive response. I just said nothing. In the end he told the receptionist "no charge," but he made his displeasure about it very clear to me, and I felt pretty uncomfortable during my remaining time in his office. Do dentists usually charge for x-rays even when the appointment relates to a problem that arose from their work? Maybe he was on the defensive because he put on both these crowns which came loose? I still think he should have been more diplomatic about it, given the circumstances.

Maybe it's time for me to look for a biological dentist in this area.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

Hi clde,

You are welcome.

I am going re post some of your thread and reply in bold type.

<<Also, this particular rc'd tooth did not have decay. It is because my previous dentist said it was cracked and prepped it for a crown, leading to terrible pain, that I got referred for a root canal.>>

IF A TOOTH "REQUIRES" A CROWN THAT INDICATES THAT THE TOOTH IS NOT STABLE ENOUGH TO PUT A FILLING INTO. MEANING, THE TOOTH HAS OR HAD EXTENSIVE DECAY... OR AN OLD DYSFUNCTIONAL DEEP RESTORATION ALREADY IN IT ..... OR THE CRACK/FRACTURE IS IN AN AREA WHERE THE TOOTH NEEDS STABILIZATION. TYPICALLY MAINSTREAM DENTISTS ARE NOT CONSERVATIVE IN THEIR PREPARATION OF THE TOOTH FOR THE CROWN AND A LOT OF TOOTH STRUCTURE IS DRILLED AWAY. OTHER TIMES IN ORDER TO RELIEVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TOOTH, THE DECAY/CRACK OR WHATEVER, A LOT OF TOOTH STRUCTURE IS REMOVED DURING THE PREPARATION FOR THE CROWN.

IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, BECAUSE BOTH OF HIS CROWNS LOOSENED THIS MAKES ME WONDER IF HIS PREPARATIONS WERE NOT CONSERVATIVE AND THAT THERE WAS NOT MUCH TOOTH NATURAL TOOTH STRUCTURE LEFT TO HOLD THE CROWNS. ALSO, WHEN A "HEALTHY" TOOTH ENDS UP IN PAIN AFTER A CROWN PREPARATION, THIS CAN ALSO INDICATE A SEVERE PREPARATION. AGAIN, THERE ARE REASONS FOR DOING IT THAT WAY BUT SOMETIMES IT'S JUST THE DENTISTS TECHNIQUE.

<<I was able to see the dentist who did the work. I noticed when he took off the crown there was a fairly strong unpleasant smell, but he said there was no infection there.>>

TWO THINGS:
1) THE FOUL ODOR INDICATES THAT BACTERIA WAS GETTING UNDERNEATH THE CROWN AND PERHAPS EVEN ACCUMULATING IN BETWEEN THE ADJACENT TEETH. FLOSSING BETTER HELPS ELIMINATE THE BACTERIA IN BETWEEN THE TEETH.. THERE IS ALWAYS A LITTLE ODOR WHEN A CROWN COMES OFF BUT IF IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE, THAT IS DUE TO THE BACTERIA THAT WAS RESIDING UNDER THE CROWN AND/OR ALONG SIDE OF IT. PERHAPS DECAY HAD NOT STARTED TO FORM YET, BUT IT WAS MOST LIKELY NOT FAR FROM HAPPENING.

2) THE TOOTH IS ROOT CANALED, THEREFORE IT IS INFECTED. AS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, TYPICALLY DENTISTS DO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE INFECTION IN A ROOT CANALED TOOTH UNLESS IT HAS SPREAD TO THE JAW BONE.

<< The x-ray also showed no decay in the tooth, and no decay in the sensitive last molar next to it. He cemented the loose crown back on and did a bit of a bite adjustment on the crown for the last molar which with any luck will help the sensitivity. I'll see when I eat.>>

THE INFECTION THAT RESIDES INSIDE OF A ROOT CANALED TOOTH IS NOT EVIDENT ON AN XRAY UNTIL IT HAS SPREAD INTO THE JAW BONE. DECAY IS ALSO NOT EVIDENT UNTIL IT GETS LARGE ENOUGH TO BE PICKED UP ON THE XRAY. I KNOW YOU WANT THIS TOOTH TO BE HEALTHY, I WISH IT WERE THAT EASY.

<<I know from reading your posts that all rc'd teeth are infected, so I know I will need to think about what to do about this tooth at some point, particularly if I continue to have autoimmune problems. But I guess the good news is right now there was no extra decay visible when the crown was removed and no bone decay visible on the x-ray. So at least I still have some molars to chew on while the extraction site on the other side of my mouth heals.>>

CORRECT ALL RC TEETH ARE INFECTED. REGARDING YOUR AUTO IMMUNE PROBLEM IT IS UNFORTUNATE BUT THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WILL RESOLVE AS LONG AS THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE CAUSING OR CONTRIBUTING TO IT. I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY SOME TIME WITH THESE TEETH. JUST BE MINDFUL OF HOW THAT MAY BE AFFECTING YOUR OVERALL HEALTH. ONLY YOU CAN DETERMINE WHAT IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST, NO ONE ELSE CAN DETERMINE THAT FOR YOU.

<< Do dentists usually charge for x-rays even when the appointment relates to a problem that arose from their work?>>

YES, TYPICALLY THEY DO CHARGE. IT JUST ALL DEPENDS ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES. IN MY OPINION, HE DOES NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MISFORTUNES THAT HAVE OCCURRED TO YOU WHICH MAYOR MAY NOT BE THE RESULT OF HIS DENTISTRY.

<< Maybe he was on the defensive because he put on both these crowns which came loose?>>

HE WAS EMBARRASSED I'M SURE. BUT I THINK THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THESE TEETH THAT HE IS NOT DISCLOSING TO YOU FOR WHATEVER REASONS.

<<I still think he should have been more diplomatic about it, given the circumstances.>>

I AGREE WITH YOU.

<<Maybe it's time for me to look for a biological dentist in this area.>>

GOOD IDEA
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE IAOMT.ORG SITE FOR SOMEONE IN YOUR AREA.

Bryanna

I just wanted to do an update of my problem and ask a few questions. I decided to try the treatment of the infected root canal tooth. The endodontist put in some medicine in the root canals. I asked him what the chances are of this being successful and he said 85%. I said thats pretty good. I was a little hesitant on doing the procedure at first but decided I might as well try it because its free or covered from the original procedure at least. So I had that done on the 17th and go back in in like a week or so to get the root canal filling put back in and I'm guessing to check if it actually worked. Do you think that it could fix the infection? Also I wanted to ask if you've heard of any cases where appendicitis or however you spell that could have been related to a root canal infection. I guess that is all I have for now. Thanks

HI gschultz,

You may not like what I am going to tell you and may even find the information a bit alarming. However, in all fairness to you, your dentist should have informed you of this information prior to re treating your tooth.

The "medicine" that the endo used to "try and kill" the infection is very toxic. Not just to your tooth but to your body. Although he placed it inside of the tooth, it is not confined to the tooth because just like the bacteria from the infection inside of the tooth, it will travel through the microscopic openings of the tooth and into your blood stream. This "medicine" does not dissipate nor is it able to be rinsed away. It is in the tooth permanently. That is the whole idea behind using it. So as long as the tooth is present, this toxin is leaching from the tooth into your bone, etc.

Will this "medicine" cure the infection? It will kill every living organism in its path. Including the physical integrity of the tooth and the jaw bone. Your immune system will send cells to create new species of bacterias in an effort to protect this toxic invasion but the end result will be a host of other complications, possibly systemic.

Your dentist in stating that the success of this medicine would be about 85% effective indicates that he knows there will be residual bacteria still brewing not just in the tooth but beyond. He perhaps should have mentioned the consequences of using this toxic chemical as well as the systemic risks associated with it.

Can an oral infection cause or contribute to a systemic infection of the appendix or other area of the body, yes it certainly can. The bacteria and toxins that live in our teeth, gums, jaw bone and entire oral cavity continuously travel through the blood stream into every organ of the body. So if there is a weakness or acute or chronic inflammation internally, then the bacterias and toxins from the mouth will find their way to those weak areas.

I think it is important for people to decide what their true priorities are so that they are certain and confident about the dental treatment they agree to partake in. If the priority is more about having dental treatment that is free or covered by insurance rather than overall health, then that is a personal choice that only the individual can make. I am not here to pass judgement on anyone's decision. I am here to answer questions truthfully and hope that I have been helpful and informative in a positive way.

Bryanna