[888terri]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can guide me with my recent problems. I had a lower molar crack & then break 2 yrs ago. I had root canal and then a crown. Everything was great until the last few months when the crowned tooth became hyper sensitive and impossible to chew on. At the same time teeth on the opposite side upper and lower are all hyper sensitive to cold. Off to the dentist I went, had the exam and multiple x-rays. She said their was no infection, no decay, nothing she could causing pain (which was significant at the time). She said only thing she could see was that one of the root canals was slightly too deep?? She suggested leaving it alone and see if it settled. As it was a couple of days before Christmas I agreed. I have avoided chewing on the side with the crown, but it is still very sensitive to touch and the hyper sensitivity continues on the opposite side.

My question is, should I just have this tooth removed? Is that the only option? I have a very small mouth and never got wisdom teeth, also had my largest molars removed as a teen to make room for the wisdom teeth that never arrived? I am 52, and don't really want to take the tooth out unless absolutely necessary. Any assistance would be great thanks.

[Bryanna]

Hi terri,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.

A cracked tooth can not always be fixed by a crown and never can it be fixed by doing a root canal. The bacteria will continue to seep into the crack and the infection will continue to spread. So although your symptoms subsided, the problem was still present.

As far as the dentist stating that there is no infection.... ALL root canaled teeth are inflamed and infected due to the bacteria that resides inside of the tiny accessory canals. There is no dental procedure that will alter that fact.... unfortunately.

Like many dentists faced with this situation, she suggested for you to give it some time because even though she knows it will get progressively worse, she felt you were not ready to remove it now. I'm sure you told her that you didn't want to lose this tooth.... however she should have been more informative to you anyway.

The dentist stating.... <<one of the canals was slightly too deep>> ... this is told to a patient when the dentist does not want to admit that the rc was done aggressively and the apex of a root was perforated during the procedure and then the filling material was pushed through the root into the jaw bone. What this means is that you have inflammation in the bone from this material and it is setting off a pain response to different branches of nerves. What she also should have told you is that this is only one of the problems with this tooth as the fact that it is root canaled is the first problem as far as inflammation and infection are concerned.

Unfortunately, there is no dental procedure that can cure an infected tooth. The only way to cure the problem is to remove the source of the infection which is the tooth. It is best to have an oral surgeon remove this tooth and not a general dentist because the surgeon will be more thorough in removing the rc material that is now embedded in the bone.

I'm sorry to deliver this news to you... I know you do not want to lose another tooth. But the fact is that to keep this tooth means to keep the infection and eventually the jaw may swell up. You may have read some other posts here about this similar situation.

Not an easy decision.... do as much research as you can. Google Dr Mercola and root canals.... Dr Meinig and root canals. You will see very informative information from both of them.

Please check back with us,
Bryanna

Originally Posted by 888terri

Hi, I'm hoping someone can guide me with my recent problems. I had a lower molar crack & then break 2 yrs ago. I had root canal and then a crown. Everything was great until the last few months when the crowned tooth became hyper sensitive and impossible to chew on. At the same time teeth on the opposite side upper and lower are all hyper sensitive to cold. Off to the dentist I went, had the exam and multiple x-rays. She said their was no infection, no decay, nothing she could causing pain (which was significant at the time). She said only thing she could see was that one of the root canals was slightly too deep?? She suggested leaving it alone and see if it settled. As it was a couple of days before Christmas I agreed. I have avoided chewing on the side with the crown, but it is still very sensitive to touch and the hyper sensitivity continues on the opposite side.

My question is, should I just have this tooth removed? Is that the only option? I have a very small mouth and never got wisdom teeth, also had my largest molars removed as a teen to make room for the wisdom teeth that never arrived? I am 52, and don't really want to take the tooth out unless absolutely necessary. Any assistance would be great thanks.