Hello everyone,

This is my first time here. Thank you all for your input and suggestions in advance!

I had a root canal surgery on #13. Before the surgery, I told the doctor that I was concerned because the tip of the root seems to be very close to the sinus. The doctor assured me that the sinus is in the different layer from the root, and she'd be very careful about it. Right after the surgery, I started to have post nasal drip with blood. I asked the doctor, she said it's normal and it'll get better in a few days. She did took a x-ray after the surgery and everything looked fine (I don't know if it's possible to make sure the sinus is fine from x-ray, but that's what she said), and she said the surgery was done good, she didn't touch the sinus. I don't know what's going on (I think I can taste those dental med from my post nasal drip). I'm now taking antibiotic. What should I do now? I have some history of sinus infection problem and am very afraid this surgery would cause me even more sinus problem.

Kelly

Hi Kelly,

When you say "root canal surgery" are you referring to an Apicoectomy? Was this tooth previously root canaled with a conventional endodontic procedure?

Tooth #13 is your upper left second premolar and the root can be in close proximity to your sinus. Depending on the length of the root and the size/location of the infection it would not be uncommon for the bacteria to enter your sinus.

The symptoms you are describing regarding the taste of medicine and blood should be evaluated further as this can be an indication of a communication into the sinus. Perhaps a consult with an Ear Nose and Throat doctor would be helpful. I would take the pre and post op xrays of this tooth to this dr so he can see the history of it. He may want to take his own scan as well.
Also explain in detail your past sinus infections especially if they occurred before or after any dental work. Also explain where you feel pain or discomfort in your face when you have a sinus infection.

If you have not seen this article by Dr. Mercola, it may behoove you to take a look at it.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...0218_DNL_art_1

Hope you get some clarity on what is happening. Please keep us posted...
Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,

Thank you for the reply and suggestions!

I'll describe more history of this tooth and my sinus problem here:

Yes, the surgery was Apicoectomy, and this tooth was previous root canaled.

About 3 to 4 years ago, I started to have some serious sinus symptoms, which I didn't know that was related to sinus at that time. I went see several Internal Med doctors before I was finally diagnosed for Chronic Sinus. The the doctor diagnosed me sent me to the ENT. I took CT and MRI with several different ENT doctors, but all of them told me that my sinus didn't look that bad from the images; there's only some slightly thing over my right nasal passage. So one of the ENT docs sent me to Allergy. I was treating with nasal spray and antibiotic at Allergy; the medications seemed to be bale to decrease my symptoms, but I still felt great discomfort most of the time. I started to do research online, and found some articles mentioned that teeth infection may affect the sinus. I have very bad teeth, most of my upper teeth are root canaled with crowns (I started those treatments when I was a kid). I noticed some of those treated teeth were having infection, so I decided to re-treat those teeth, and was hoping that could also resolve my sinus problem. It took me about 2 years to do all the re-treat. When my endo dentist at that time treated #13, I noticed that my sinus problem were starting to get better, though it's not completely gone, but I felt much better. However, the endo treatment for this tooth took several months, because I always kept having pain came back after each cleaning, though the pain was decreasing each time. At last, the doctor just decided to fill it up and wait to see if the pain would go away itself. She said it's too risky to do the surgery since the root is too close to the sinus. I had about a year of sinus symptom free, until recently, I had a bad sinus breakout again. This time I clearly felt that the sinus breakout started with the toothache of #13, then it made my left nasal passage congested and then all other sinus symptoms started. So I decided to go see another endodontist, and this doctor suggested that Apico is the right treatment. That's why I did this endo surgery.

I just had the Apico a few days ago and still have the stitches on. I did some search, some says that the sinus perforation may heal by itself; I don't know how true it is. With the fact that I just had the Apico surgery and have had history of sinus problem, I don't know when would be a good timing for me to go see an ENT? Could you give me some suggestions?

BTW, when I go to the article link you gave me last time, it shows Page not found.

Thank you so much for reading this long post!


Kelly

Hi Kelly,

Oh boy. I am sorry to hear that your upper arch is full of root canaled teeth. It is a shame if none of your dentists have informed you of the systemic consequences associated with root canaled teeth. Irrelevant of how many times you re-treat these teeth with root canals or apicoectomies, they will always be chronically infected. Your symptoms of sinus problems wax and wane because the antibiotics and nasal sprays temporarily reduce the inflammation. But so long as these teeth are present, you are likely to have chronic sinus problems.

This next statement is not meant to scare you... although I'm very sorry that it probably will... my sole intention is to inform you of the potential risks of what you are up against. Infections within the teeth are highly likely to proliferate through the tooth into the jawbone. The upper infections are highly likely to proliferate into the sinus. The brain is only about 4 inches from the roots of your upper teeth. The bacteria from chronic infections has no barrier. You should have been informed of the systemic consequences of root canaling these teeth. It is unfortunate that many dentists do not associate the teeth with the rest of the body but that has always been a huge flaw within this profession.

Here is the link that I tried to give you before... hopefully this one will open for you..
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...ot-canals.aspx

I know this is overwhelming and you really just want to focus on this one tooth. But the reality is that there is more to this infection than just this one tooth. It would take a very brave and rare dentist to tell you what I just have because his/her fear would be that by informing you of this a huge can of worms would be opened up and no one wants to deal with that... including you. I am so sorry you have not been properly informed before now. I feel awful telling you this :/

The best thing to do now is to ask specific questions of your dentists and the ENT about chronic sinus issues in association with your root canaled teeth. The ENT should be informed that you have had these teeth done at a young age and then again recently. Unfortunately the common mindset from dentists and doctors is.... let's see how long she gets out of these teeth. What they fail to tell you is what the systemic consequences can ultimately be. So please ask them that question and expect specific answers.

Again, my sincerest apologies for being so straight forward with you. I truly wish I had better news.

Bryanna