Back in Jan. of last year I had a root canal done on the tooth behind one of my front ones. I kept getting gum boils afterwards and the dentist just gave me more antibiotics, and said if it continued to come back in a few months. It finally became very painful and I had to go back. They said The tooth in front of the one they did the root canal on, was also infected (the front tooth) and needed a root canal. I did the root canal in oct. and the gum has not gone down all the way (has continued to be swollen, not as bad as before the second root canal) This week though it has really gotten swollen, and a gum boil is starting to form like before. It is once again starting to become painful.

Am I right to think this should not still be happening? after two root canals?

I am asking what could still be causing this, should I still trust the dentist? and any advice on what should be done.

Thanks!

Hi myersg,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here. I will be very honest with you and tell you that this information is seldom given to a patient by their dentist and it is a bit alarming. But you have the right to be properly informed and that is why I am here.

When an infected tooth is not extracted, the bacteria that resides inside of the tooth proliferates (travels) through the tooth into the bone and causes a series of infections along the way. Root canal therapy is done in an attempt to "retain" an "unhealthy" tooth for an undetermined amount of time. The procedure is not capable or intended to "cure" the infection simply because the bacteria that resides inside of the tiny microscopic canals cannot be removed. Therefore the tooth remains infected irrelevant of how many times the rc procedure is done or how many teeth in a row are root canaled.

Your situation of having several infected teeth in a row after having rc in one of them is typical, acceptable (in conventional dental practices) and "commonly seen" in dentistry. Conventional dentists will just keep root canaling one tooth after the other and then in a short period of time will suggest to re treat them (this will not alter the bacterial status) or extract them.

Some of the problems with "retaining" infected teeth are:

1) The infection has the potential to become systemic as it filters through your blood stream. The more chronic it is, the more likely to spread. The infection has the potential to spread to your sinuses, your major organs, your bones, your brain, etc.
2) The bone surrounding the infected teeth will deteriorate and become necrotic resulting in permanent bone loss.
3) Replacement of extracted teeth that were chronically infected is very difficult if not impossible due to the extent of the bacteria and bone loss.

The boils you keep geeting are called Fistulas and they indicated the infection has spread to the jaw bone.

Unfortunately, the only possible cure lies in removing all of the infected teeth. I know this is not what you want to hear, but it is a fact and one that your dentist should have shared with you before he did the first root canal.

For more information, you could google... Dr Mercola root canaled teeth... Dr George Meinig root canal cover up.

I'm sorry to be the one telling you this. I know it's scary... but it is your overall health and not just your teeth that are at stake and you should have been informed of this before now. I urge you to speak to your dentist about the options you have regarding the removal of these teeth and replacing them. I wish you well.

Bryanna

Thanks for the info. Being both teeth are in a row, and one of them is a front tooth, after (if) I have them pulled what would I do? being there would be a big gap in the front of my mouth from 2 teeth missing? what about fake teeth or something? how much would that cost about? (my dental insurance covers about 50%) of the cost of most stuff btw.

below is a photo of the xray, BEFORE they did the SECOND root canal. in the picture you can see only one has been done at the time. What are you thoughts from seeing that? do you think the tooth they thought was the problem was the problem? like I said, this xray is from after the FIRST root canal, and BEFORE the SECOND.

Also, here is a picture of my gum and teeth.

Myersg,

Thanks for posting the x-rays.
You have a very large severe infection in the jaw bone surrounding both of these teeth. The fistula (boil) coming through the gum is caused by the bacteria from the infection as it is trying to find a way to release the pressure from the inflammation This is a large infection.

The bone is naturally thinner in this area of the mouth and quite a bit of it is infected. To keep these teeth means to keep this infection and the bacteria will spread. The more it spreads the more bone will be lost.

Replacing these teeth at this point will be difficult for many reasons. Without a doubt the healthiest option would be to remove these teeth and replace them temporarily with a removable partial denture called a flipper. It is best to have an oral surgeon remove these teeth and not a general dentist because the bone needs to be cleaned out very thoroughly of as much infection and necrotic tissue as possible.

Dental implants require solid, healthy bone in order to integrate properly. You do not have healthy bone in either of these areas at this time. There is a slim chance that you will be able to grow enough bone back to hold implants after the teeth are removed. The most important issue right now is to eliminate this infection and replace the teeth temporarily. In a few months the dentist can take an x-ray to see how the bone is filling in.

Depending on how the area heals, you may be a candidate for a permanent bridge. But this is something you would need to discuss with your dentist.

I know this is hard to deal with and finances may be an issue. But due to the severity of your infection, you should not wait on getting this taken care of. Please don't go to a dentist for the extractions because he is cheap.... you need an oral surgeon.

Bryanna






OTE=myersg;1044623]Thanks for the info. Being both teeth are in a row, and one of them is a front tooth, after (if) I have them pulled what would I do? being there would be a big gap in the front of my mouth from 2 teeth missing? what about fake teeth or something? how much would that cost about? (my dental insurance covers about 50%) of the cost of most stuff btw.

below is a photo of the xray, BEFORE they did the SECOND root canal. in the picture you can see only one has been done at the time. What are you thoughts from seeing that? do you think the tooth they thought was the problem was the problem? like I said, this xray is from after the FIRST root canal, and BEFORE the SECOND.

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Thanks. I went to the dentist today and they are referring me to a specialist to see what is still wrong. I got a new xray, I have posted it below:




is there anything you notice different with the new xray, that might help me in making a decision on if I should have them pulled or not?






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Hi myersg,

Thanks for posting the new x-ray.

This x-ray clearly shows a large infection and it appears to be a more wide spread than on the other x-ray.

The specialist you should be seeing is an oral surgeon for removal of both of these teeth. Is that who you have been referred to?

Bryanna


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I don't think so..., here is the site to them:*edit*

your thoughts? I do think I should see em' just to see if they notice anything important or what not.

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Myersg,

Nothing came through as the moderator edited it out. That's okay.

It is simple enough for you to call the office and ask if the dentist is an oral surgeon or an endodontist. Oral surgeons are the dentists who would remove the teeth and endodontists are the dentists who will re do the root canals.

Please understand that there is no doubt that you have a severe infection associated with both of those teeth. It is blatant on all of your x-rays and is easily visible in your mouth as well. So if anyone tries to convince you that you should take antibiotics or wait this out or re treat these teeth with another root canal procedure the outcome will not be favorable.

Please read what Dr Mercola has to say about root canals. It may bring more light to this situation and be helpful to you in the long run.

Bryanna


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ok, I called the office and they are endodontist. I have not made any appointment yet. Do you think it might be better to ask my dentist office if it would just be better to have them pulled? or just have an appointment with the endodontist and see what they say, and then bring it up?

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