I am seriously concerned after reading many horror stories involving root canals and infections, but I'm hoping I can get some advice.

Here is my issue: I had a root canal and crown done by my regular dentist 3 years ago. I haven't had any issues with it at all until recently. I started having some pain in what I thought was the tooth next to my crown, which has a big filling in it. After just a couple days of pain I went to the dentist. (I didn't go to a dentist from the time I was 10 years old to 25 years old, and at that time with good insurance I had all my teeth fixed which entailed pretty much all of my molars getting fillings. Ever since then (about 10 years later) I don't put off going to the dentist and have regular checkups and cleanings. Anyway, so my dentist takes an X-ray and tests my teeth to see where it's hurting, and he said the X-ray looked fine, and I was having more sensitivity on the crown than the tooth next to it. I thought that couldn't be because I distinctly remember my dentist saying, "well this tooth will never hurt again." So, my dentist refers me to an endodontist to check the root canal and crown, and prescribes me Vicodin. At the time I thought maybe the pain had even gone away because I had taken Tylenol earlier, and was in no pain. I didn't pick up the prescription for the Vicodin because I didn't think I'd need it. Well over the weekend I felt more pain, and made the appt and saw the specialist on That Monday (saw regular dentist on Friday). The endodontist took an X-ray and tested sensitivity. I had developed pain in my jaw all the way to my ear by then, and my gland on that side was starting to hurt. He told be I had an infection under the root canal and prescribed me Amoxicillin and told me to take Advil. He said if this didn't fix the problem he would perform a minor surgery where he cuts in through the side under the root canal and removes the infection (an Apicetomy). I have now been on the Amoxicillin for 5 and a half days, the pain goes away at times, but others its excruciating making my ear and gland and jawbone hurt. I've taken Motrin and Vicodin a lot this week. I'm fearing the antibiotic hasn't helped. I am going to call on Monday to make another appt with the endodontist, but after reading a lot online I'm worried an Apicetomy isn't the best option. I am scared of the infection getting worse. Advice please.

Welcome to Neuro talk. Bryanna is the most experienced about dental issues on this site. I know she will respond. I am glad you are reading the posts about dental issues. I had the same kind of problem you do. What I found out is that RC in general is a money making endeavor, which will never have a good reslolution. Not now, not ever. The tiny parts inside the infected tooth, cannot be cleaned out 100% no matter what the specialist does. They don't always tell you that because money is an issue. Think of what it cost origionally, with RC, then crown, now the RC supposedly re-done. This is a bandaid on a tooth that really is causing pain and continued infection. Our immune systems don't need that. I had my RC teeth out, and have a partial. No pain, no infection, no problem, end of jaw pain, all of it. Bryanna may be able to tell you this in a more technical way. If this tooth is treated again as your speciaist recommends, it won't solve the problem. NT is here to try to get to the truth of our issues. I don't always like what I heard for my own conditions, but I did find out about the truth of the situation. I sure wish you all the best tinask. You will get some more responses, and I will be here for you. ginnie

Thanks Ginnie,

I've been doing more research on an apicoectomy, and am just as scared. I think maybe I should get a second opinion and ask about other options including extraction. This pain is terrible, and I don't want to deal with an infection that gets even worse later on .

Hi Tinask,

The tooth is just showing symptoms now but in reality it has been infected since the root canal was done. As Ginnie said, there is no way to cure an infected tooth because the countless tiny canals cannot be cleaned out which leaves you with an infected tooth. Antibiotics cannot reach in these tiny canals to magically cure the infected nerve material. That is why they haven't work.

An apicoectomy does NOTHING to cure the infection inside of those tiny infected canals. This is a painful, expensive surgical procedure that causes additional trauma, inflammation and deterioration to the jaw bone. Making replacement of this tooth in the future more complicated than need be.

The dentist only gave you part of the description of this procedure... in that he neglected to tell you that he cannot remove the infected tissue inside of the tooth. Therefore at best he could remove some of the cystic material that has formed at the root of the tooth. What you will be left with is..... an infected tooth.

I know you don't want to lose your tooth. Unfortunately that is the inevitable with all root canaled teeth. It is your choice as to whether you want to retain an infected tooth for additional time... which carries systemic health risks... or remove it now before further damage occurs.

I'm sorry to be giving you such crappy news... I really wish dentists were more informative about these procedures.

Please keep us posted...
Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna, so I have delayed doing anything for now. I made an appointment to see the endodontist today to do the apicoectomy, but cancelled it because a couple days ago I got a different antibiotic prescribed, and since then I think it's healing more because I'm in substantially less pain. (no more ear pain, no lymph node pain, no noticeable swelling at all).

I am going to see if it clears up the infection. I realize this will most likely be temporary, but it will give me time to make a good decision. I will make an appt next week if after I'm done with this round of antibiotics there is any symptom at all.

My question now though is the pain has seemed to move to another tooth. The tooth next to the crown is super sensitive on the side that isn't next to the crown. It hurts to floss there, it hurts to brush, it hurts with anything hot or cold. My question is could it be possible they were wrong when I first went in and said it was the tooth next to the crown, but was told nothing was wrong with that tooth?

I mainly assumed it was that tooth because I originally thought there's no way my root canal tooth could hurt... They did an xray at my regular dentist and the endodontist and said that there wasn't anything new with that tooth (it has a big filling). Anyway, I rambled through that, but hope it makes sense. I am leaning towards never getting a root canal again, and having this one extracted (even though I had the appt for the apico I planned on asking a ton of questions first lol). Thank you!