[amee]

I am a new comer here. I have been suffering for the past 9 months or so. I had gone for a dental clean and the dentist told me that one of my fillings needed replacement. She replaced the filling and the pain started. I was told that now the tooth needed root canal treatment. The treatment continued but the pain persisted from the bone to my ears and the left side of my face and my cheek bone on and off for the past 9 months.

I have been on endless antibiotics and pain killers during the whole process. The crown broke and had to be replaced this month. The pain and feeling of extreme discomfort continues starting at the bottom in the bone of the tooth with the root canal. my ears feel blocked like in an airplane and sometimes the pain and a feeling of tightness radiates to the back of my ears and the whole ear.
I had a CT scan of my sinuses and they are clear. The CT scan of my face shows there is no Temporomandibular joint disorder. The ENT specialist says there is nothing wrong with my ear. There is a sign of some composite material that has exited the root and is seen below the root of the treated tooth in the scan. Is this normal? Has the dentist drilled in too deep into the root?
Please tell me if this is the cause of my problems and if this is going to continue and what is the solution. My dentist and his team, I feel, are trying to cover up something that they did wrong.
Please, please help me.

[ginnie]

Welcome to Neuro Talk. Bryanna is the best on the site for information regarding dental issues. She is tops and will reaffirm what I will say. A RC on a tooth is a temporary fix to a problem that may persist. The tiny canals inside the tooth can never be totally cleaned out with a root canal. It is a high dollar fix, that doesn't last. The infection is still there, and most likely is the cause of your continuted pain and problems. I had my RC teeth removed, end of problem, end of the money pit. NO, dentists often do not tell patients the truth. Then they want to re-treat the tooth, to the same effect. Yes, material can go below the root, and cause trouble too. If you feel they are hiding something from you, most likely they are. Your feelings are correct. I had persistant problems with two teeth that had a RC. I now have a nesbit, and am totally happy with it. This is a partial for the two spaces. I do not regret my choice for one minute. I trust Bryanna, as I also came to this site looking for some answers. She is the one who informed me of this situtaion with RC's. I do wish you all the best, and I hope you find another dentist or specialist who can help you once and for all remove the tooth and the infection. ginnie

[Bryanna]

Hi amee,

The problem is that your tooth is infected. There is no dental procedure that can cure an infected tooth. Root canal therapy can sometimes temporarily subside the symptoms but it does not cure the infection and the tooth would need to be removed at some point.

The dentist may have drilled too deeply into the tooth when she did the filling or the decay may have been too extensive and that is what infected the nerve. Sometimes when the decay is deep it is inevitable that the nerve will die.... and the tooth does not have to be worked on for this to happen.

You feel betrayed because it is hard for you to understand what has happened because your dentist lead you to believe that the root canal treatment was going to solve your problem. As I said, the treatment cannot cure the infection.

Your symptoms you are having associated with this tooth will subside after the tooth is removed. If you wait, the pain will get worse and the infection will spread. You may develop a swelling and/or a fistula (looks like a pimple) above the tooth as the infection spreads. The fistula means that the infection has spread to the bone. So it is best to take care of this problem before that occurs.

I would suggest that you have an oral surgeon remove this tooth not your general dentist. They are more experienced and have a better understanding of the removal of teeth.

Please keep us posted okay...
Bryanna




[/I]

Originally Posted by amee

I am a new comer here. I have been suffering for the past 9 months or so. I had gone for a dental clean and the dentist told me that one of my fillings needed replacement. She replaced the filling and the pain started. I was told that now the tooth needed root canal treatment. The treatment continued but the pain persisted from the bone to my ears and the left side of my face and my cheek bone on and off for the past 9 months.

I have been on endless antibiotics and pain killers during the whole process. The crown broke and had to be replaced this month. The pain and feeling of extreme discomfort continues starting at the bottom in the bone of the tooth with the root canal. my ears feel blocked like in an airplane and sometimes the pain and a feeling of tightness radiates to the back of my ears and the whole ear.
I had a CT scan of my sinuses and they are clear. The CT scan of my face shows there is no Temporomandibular joint disorder. The ENT specialist says there is nothing wrong with my ear. There is a sign of some composite material that has exited the root and is seen below the root of the treated tooth in the scan. Is this normal? Has the dentist drilled in too deep into the root?
Please tell me if this is the cause of my problems and if this is going to continue and what is the solution. My dentist and his team, I feel, are trying to cover up something that they did wrong.
Please, please help me.

[Bryanna]

Hey there ginnie!!
Thanks for all of your support and kind words
Hope you are doing okay.
Hugs to you ~'.'~
Bryanna

Originally Posted by ginnie

Welcome to Neuro Talk. Bryanna is the best on the site for information regarding dental issues. She is tops and will reaffirm what I will say. A RC on a tooth is a temporary fix to a problem that may persist. The tiny canals inside the tooth can never be totally cleaned out with a root canal. It is a high dollar fix, that doesn't last. The infection is still there, and most likely is the cause of your continuted pain and problems. I had my RC teeth removed, end of problem, end of the money pit. NO, dentists often do not tell patients the truth. Then they want to re-treat the tooth, to the same effect. Yes, material can go below the root, and cause trouble too. If you feel they are hiding something from you, most likely they are. Your feelings are correct. I had persistant problems with two teeth that had a RC. I now have a nesbit, and am totally happy with it. This is a partial for the two spaces. I do not regret my choice for one minute. I trust Bryanna, as I also came to this site looking for some answers. She is the one who informed me of this situtaion with RC's. I do wish you all the best, and I hope you find another dentist or specialist who can help you once and for all remove the tooth and the infection. ginnie

[amee]

Thank you so very much Bryanna for your feedback. Would an infection in a crowned root canal show up on an x- ray or scan? Meanwhile, shall look for an oral surgeon and keep you posted. Do you think a dental implant is a good idea after a tooth has been extracted?

Thank you Ginny for your support too.

[Bryanna]

Hi Amee,

No, an infection does not always show up on an xray as it is only a two dimensional picture. It will show up on a scan, depending on the type of scan, if it has proliferated beyond the tooth. Unfortunately, dentists are still learning how to read these scans because there are changes that occur in the surrounding bone when infection is present that they often do not recognize.

The issue with root canaled teeth is simple... they are ALL infected. There are no exceptions. It is just a matter of time before the infection spreads beyond the tooth.

Check out what Dr Mercola has to say about root canals.....

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...he-plague.aspx

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ar...ot-canals.aspx

Bryanna

Originally Posted by amee

Thank you so very much Bryanna for your feedback. Would an infection in a crowned root canal show up on an x- ray or scan? Meanwhile, shall look for an oral surgeon and keep you posted. Do you think a dental implant is a good idea after a tooth has been extracted?

Thank you Ginny for your support too.

[ginnie]

Read the Article and freaked a bit. I still have one RC tooth left. Now I am seriously thinking about having it out. I have 4 auto immune diseases. Loaded with arthritis as well. I think I would like to see if there is an improvement in my all over health if I do this. I have had no problems with this RC, but I know it is just a matter of time. If this could improve my health, it would be worth loosing this tooth too. Think I should? I don't think my current dentist would object either. Never would have had it done had I been told the truth. ginnie

[Bryanna]

Hi ginnie,

The articles from Dr Mercola are so right on! There is no doubt that root canaled tooth is irritating your immune system. It is also a reservoir of bacteria in your jaw bone. You are being so diligent with your dental health now and it seems a bit defeating to hang on to this unhealthy tooth. What do you think about that?

We can always do things to improve our health and lessen the burden on our immune system. Will removing this tooth cure any of your auto immune conditions? At this point, probably not. But it will improve your oral health and it will be one less irritant to your immune system without question and both of those things are certainly beneficial.

Ginnie, which tooth is it?

Bryanna

Originally Posted by ginnie

Read the Article and freaked a bit. I still have one RC tooth left. Now I am seriously thinking about having it out. I have 4 auto immune diseases. Loaded with arthritis as well. I think I would like to see if there is an improvement in my all over health if I do this. I have had no problems with this RC, but I know it is just a matter of time. If this could improve my health, it would be worth loosing this tooth too. Think I should? I don't think my current dentist would object either. Never would have had it done had I been told the truth. ginnie

[ginnie]

My besnit is in the middle of the upper right jaw. This tooth is directly below it. I imagin my bite would be effected. Would need to see the chart to tell you what numbers they are. I have forgotten. I don't want to keep an infection. I have problems enough, thats for sure. My T cells are messed up with one of the auto immune problems. I most likely will get this tooth out soon. thanks. ginnie

[Bryanna]

Ginnie,

Can you consult with your dentist about the removal of this tooth and perhaps she could make you a nesbit for the bottom to replace it...??

Please don't worry ginnie. I'm sure your dentist will be able to help you with this decision.

Please keep me posted
Bryanna

Originally Posted by ginnie

My besnit is in the middle of the upper right jaw. This tooth is directly below it. I imagin my bite would be effected. Would need to see the chart to tell you what numbers they are. I have forgotten. I don't want to keep an infection. I have problems enough, thats for sure. My T cells are messed up with one of the auto immune problems. I most likely will get this tooth out soon. thanks. ginnie