I need help! Since I got pregnant my teeth went down hill. I brush everyday twice.
I didn't go to the dentist while pregnant since I have anxiety and asthma. When I did go, I had to do 2 root canals. One of them was starying to be painful about a moth after but the pain went away and I didn't go back. It would bother me once in a while for maybe a day. Now its been about a week of really bad pain on my tooth. I feel pain in near my nostril, cheek bone, lower jaw and upper jaw. Im starting to feel pain in my temple as well.

I finally went to see whats wrong and they told me I have an infection and I will need to redo the root canal. They said I had a 20 80 percent chance of saving the tooth or I may need to look into an extraction.

Should I just extract?

My insurance will cover only a certain amount a year and I want to make sure I am doing the right thing.

The only problem is that its one of my front tooth next to my canine tooth. I just dont want to go toothless for so long, I do smile alot and my teeth are just naturally straight. So it embarrassing.

I just dont want to get more sinus problems.

Please help.

Hi Claudy,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.
I will re post some of your post and type my answer in bold.

<<Since I got pregnant my teeth went down hill. I brush everyday twice.
I didn't go to the dentist while pregnant since I have anxiety and asthma.>>

YOUR DENTAL PHOBIA IS NOT UNUSUAL AS MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCE SOME FORM OF IT. THERE ARE WAYS TO DEAL OR OVERCOME THAT ANXIETY WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN LATER. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE BEST WAY IS TO SEE THE DENTIST TWICE A YEAR BECAUSE THE MORE YOU GET USE TO BEING IN THE CHAIR, THE EASIER IT BECOMES AND THE LESS DENTAL PROBLEMS YOU WILL HAVE.

WITH THAT SAID AND JUST FOR FYI, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO VISIT THE DENTIST FOR EXAMS AND CLEANINGS DURING PREGNANCY AS THE HORMONE CHANGES ALTER THE CHEMISTRY IN THE SALIVA, ETC WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO DECAY, GUM RECESSION AND PERIODONTAL DISEASE.

<< When I did go, I had to do 2 root canals.>>

THE NEED FOR A ROOT CANAL DOES NOT OCCUR OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME UNLESS THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF SUDDEN PHYSICAL TRAUMA TO A TOOTH. A TOOTH HAS TO BE DECAYED FOR A LENGTH OF TIME AND OR BADLY BROKEN DOWN CAUSING THE NERVE TO BECOME INFECTED. SO IS IT CORRECT TO SAY THAT YOU HAD NOT BEEN TO A DENTIST FOR AWHILE PRIOR TO GETTING PREGNANT? AGAIN, MANY PEOPLE FALL INTO THIS CATEGORY AND FOR SOME VERY VALID REASONS.

<<One of them was starying to be painful about a moth after but the pain went away and I didn't go back. It would bother me once in a while for maybe a day. Now its been about a week of really bad pain on my tooth. I feel pain in near my nostril, cheek bone, lower jaw and upper jaw. Im starting to feel pain in my temple as well.>>

ALL ROOT CANALED TEETH ARE UNHEALTHY IRRELEVANT IF THEY HAVE SYMPTOMS OR NOT AS THERE IS NO WAY TO REMOVE ALL OF THE INFECTED NERVE TISSUE AND THERE IS NO MEDICATION THAT CAN KILL IT ALL OFF EITHER. ROOT CANALS ARE PERFORMED TO ATTEMPT TO TEMPORARILY "RETAIN" A TOOTH FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE PROCEDURE, IRRELEVANT OF HOW MANY TIMES IT IS DONE ON THE TOOTH CANNOT AND WILL NOT ALTER THE BACTERIA AND INFECTION THAT RESIDES INSIDE THE MICROSCOPIC CANALS. THERE ARE MANY FLAWS WITH THE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE DUE TO THE ANATOMY OF THE TOOTH AND THE BURDEN THE INFECTION HAS ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. ONE OF THE FLAWS THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND HAS TO DO WITH THE MATERIALS USED TO FILL THE LARGE CANALS. THIS MATERIAL SHRINKS AFTER IT HAS BEEN PUSHED DOWN AND MELTED INTO THESE CANALS ALLOWING ADDITIONAL BACTERIA TO BUILD UP INSIDE OF THOSE CANALS.

<<I finally went to see whats wrong and they told me I have an infection and I will need to redo the root canal. They said I had a 20 80 percent chance of saving the tooth or I may need to look into an extraction. >>

RE TREATING THE TOOTH WILL NOT ALTER THE STATUS OF THE INFECTION IN A POSITIVE MANNER AS THE ONLY CANALS THAT CAN BE TREATED ARE THOSE THAT ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO VISUALLY SEE AND FEEL WITH AN INSTRUMENT. THE OTHER MANY HUNDREDS++ OF TINY CANALS WILL CONTINUE TO BE INFECTED WITH NECROTIC NERVE TISSUE. THERE IS A ZERO PERCENT CHANCE OF "SAVING" AS IN "CURING" THE INFECTION. SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO "CURE" THE PROBLEM, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO REMOVE THE SOURCE OF THE INFECTION WHICH IS THE TOOTH.

<<Should I just extract? >>

EXTRACTION OF THE TOOTH IS REMOVING THE SOURCE OF THE INFECTION AND IT IS THE ONLY PROCEDURE THAT CAN DO THAT. TO WAIT TO EXTRACT THE TOOTH CAN LEAD TO SPREAD OF THE INFECTION TO OTHER TEETH AND BEYOND.

<<My insurance will cover only a certain amount a year and I want to make sure I am doing the right thing. >>

I KNOW FINANCES ARE A CONCERN FOR MANY PEOPLE AS DENTISTRY IS VERY EXPENSIVE. HOWEVER, THE MAIN CONCERN HERE IS TRULY YOUR HEALTH AND RETAINING INFECTED TEETH IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR HEALTH. BUT THAT IS SOMETHING ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE.

<<The only problem is that its one of my front tooth next to my canine tooth. I just dont want to go toothless for so long, I do smile alot and my teeth are just naturally straight. So it embarrassing. >

OF COURSE YOUR SMILE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S ONE THING TO LOOSE ONE TOOTH IN YOUR SMILE LINE.... IT'S ANOTHER TO LOOSE MORE THAN ONE DUE TO THE SPREAD OF INFECTION. IT WOULD BEHOOVE YOU TO SPEAK TO YOUR DENTIST ABOUT YOUR REPLACEMENT OPTIONS BEFORE YOU EMBARK ON ANOTHER ROOT CANAL WHICH WILL NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A DENTAL IMPLANT, THEN CONSULT WITH AN ORAL SURGEON TO SEE IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE FOR ONE.

<<I just dont want to get more sinus problems. >>

SO I ASSUME THEN THAT YOU ARE HAVING SINUS ISSUES? IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY ARE CONNECTED TO THE INFECTION AS IT MAY HAVE SPREAD TO YOUR SINUS. AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL PROLIFERATE IF THE SOURCE OF THE INFECTION IS NOT REMOVED.

I know this is not easy, it can be a bit scary and expensive. I wish there were some better options for you. But the infection is not going to go away until the source of it is removed.

Some things to help overcome or reduce your anxiety in the dental chair...

Bring a set of headphones and some familiar music. Where them the entire time you are in the chair.

Another is to take a B complex vitamin supplement one hour prior to the appointment as this helps to calm the nerves.

Another is meditation. On you tube there are some great meditation videos or hypnotic videos that teach you how to become calm under stressful situations. I have been practicing yoga and meditation for several years. Here is one that I particularly like and use myself and suggest to others by David Fairweather.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCJJwkbn-eY