Hello,

I am new here and I am having some dental issues...

Back in November 2012 I had a partial root canal done on a top front tooth. I say "Partial" because he drilled it out and then put a medicated swab in it and a temporary filling. I was supposed to go back the following week to have those removed and the real filling put in with the crown. Well I got sick and then my kids and then with the holidays...anyway I never ended up going back. I wasn't in any pain until within the last 10 days or so, however I have had a headache for well over 6 weeks now.

My tooth pain started with heat, anything even warm would send me through the roof... then it got to the point that it was almost constant shooting pain. I also started to have some tightness in my chest which has lead to minor achy like pains and a heavy feeling around my heart area...I have swollen lypmth nodes in my neck, I have been having chills and an over all very fatigued feeling.

Yesterday out of no where my tooth pain was completely gone. If I touch the gum it feels tender... but I have no pain, infact my tooth felt like it had become loose but when I touch it it does not move or anything. I just feels like a loss of sensation. The same day that the tooth pain stopped my sinuses have gone crazy. I have so much pain in my face and have been sneezing so much.

I called my dentist yesterday and I cannot be seen until Monday of next week. I told them that I think I have an infection so they called me in some antibiotics.

My question is are all of these things related? My chest, tooth and sinuses?
If they are, will being on an antibiotic help all 3 issues? Or do I need to be seen by my Dr sooner?

Why have I lost feeling in my tooth and what do you expect the dentist to do? I just am so worried he will have to remove the tooth.

Any thoughts would be a great help!

Thank you!

-Ashley

Ashley,

This tooth is infected and a root canal or apicoectomy is not going to cure the infection. The bacteria may have spread to the sinus which is why you have pain in your face and head.

People tend to think that the teeth are separate from the rest of the body. When in fact, our oral health is a reflection of many other things going on in the body. The discomfort around your heart could be related to the infection and/or anxiety over what you are worried about. People who have a compromised immune system due to certain health conditions are more susceptible to the spread of infection as opposed to people who are very healthy. So I have no idea if that would apply to you or not.

Regarding your lymph nodes and fatigue, of course that could be related to the infection. The antibiotic may or may not help with those symptoms.

The most important thing to know is that there is no procedure or antibiotic that will cure the infection in your tooth. The symptoms may subside temporarily but they will at some point return. Teeth require blood to supply nutrients so it can stay alive and healthy. During a root canal procedure the blood supply is cut off when the main nerves are damaged and removed. Rendering the tooth non-vital. The bone surrounding the tooth eventually becomes ischemic and unhealthy as well. This does not heal or get better as long as the tooth is present. Which can make eventual replacement of the tooth with an implant very risky as it carries a higher failure rate as opposed to placing an implant in healthy bone.

I know this is not what you want to hear and the thought of losing your tooth is scary. I do understand and I'm sorry to deliver this news to you. But it's important to consider the risks with hanging onto it. So it may be wise to discuss removal of the tooth and replacement options just to help you get the whole picture.

Keep us posted on how your dental visit goes.

Bryanna

Thank you so much Bryanna for taking the time to reply!
I really appreciate it. Should I mention my sinus/chest issues to my dentist before next week or do you think it can wait until then?

Ashley,

You are welcome

If you think your physical issues are not improving or they are getting worse, then yes, let him (and your physician) know what is going on. Typically dentists are not well informed about systemic reactions to oral health. But you never know, maybe yours will be!

Bryanna