[missyflitz]

Hello. I am new to this site and at the end of my tether. I will try and be brief but I know it will still end up long winded. About 4 years ago I had root canal performed on me second back molar. Ever since then I have had sinus infections on and off which I had never suffered from previously. I also had root canal on another tooth which seemed to settle well. I would always get shooting pain into my sinus and my right nostril would get permanently blocked. I lost count of how many dentists and doctors I mentioned this to but they all said this sinus problem was not connected to the root canal and everything looked fine. About 3 months ago I went back to Doctor and demanded that she refer me to a specialist for my teeth and she referred me to an oral surgeon. Around 10 weeks ago after he took xrays of my mouth and side of face he removed the second back molar and as the other root canalled tooth had just broken the day before he extracted that one as well. All seemed to go well and he put a post in the 3rd tooth from front as I am going to get an implant there in a couple of months. I did not worry about the molar as you cannot see it. All was good until about 3 weeks afterwards when I was in a lot of pain and my faced swelled up. I went back to dentist who reopened the site and cleaned out sinus again and stitched me up. He said if it happened again I would have to go to ENT specialist as there was nothing else he could do for me. This was a chronic infection which on the x-rays showed up as the right side of my face being nearly all in shadow from infection. The clean out stayed ok for a couple of weeks but then the horrible taste began again and gum swelled up but not to the extent of before. At this stage I still have an infection and cannot get into ENT until next month. I am so concerned about the damage this is doing on my body and am chronically tired all the time. I have had 3 lots of antibiotics (stagnated) been to a naturopath and tried every remedy know to man. Does this sound like a gum problem or sinus problem and has anyone else gone through this and had a good outcome?? It still oozes and drains disgusting stuff out of this site and makes me feel sick every time it happens. Thank you so much for listening

[Bryanna]

Hi missyflitz,

This type of infection is so typical with root canaled teeth and most of the time people have no clue this bacterial infection is brewing because symptoms are vague or absent most of the time. ALL root canaled teeth are chronically infected so it is easy for the infection to spread to the jaw bone, the sinus, the brain, the major organs..... and it is truly unfortunate that dentists are not informing their patients about any of this.

Was the implant placed on the same side as the infection? If so, then this could be adding to the problem. It is not wise to wait a month for the ENT doctor. You need to be seen and treated asap. Either see the oral surgeon again or see a new one and get one of them to refer you to an ENT asap.

Don't let anyone keep putting you on antibiotics without further evaluation. Oral antibiotics are not always affective in dealing with this type of long term bone and tissue infection.

I'm sorry you are going through this.... but pay attention to your intuition with this as you instinctively know it needs attention.

Please keep us posted.

Originally Posted by missyflitz

Hello. I am new to this site and at the end of my tether. I will try and be brief but I know it will still end up long winded. About 4 years ago I had root canal performed on me second back molar. Ever since then I have had sinus infections on and off which I had never suffered from previously. I also had root canal on another tooth which seemed to settle well. I would always get shooting pain into my sinus and my right nostril would get permanently blocked. I lost count of how many dentists and doctors I mentioned this to but they all said this sinus problem was not connected to the root canal and everything looked fine. About 3 months ago I went back to Doctor and demanded that she refer me to a specialist for my teeth and she referred me to an oral surgeon. Around 10 weeks ago after he took xrays of my mouth and side of face he removed the second back molar and as the other root canalled tooth had just broken the day before he extracted that one as well. All seemed to go well and he put a post in the 3rd tooth from front as I am going to get an implant there in a couple of months. I did not worry about the molar as you cannot see it. All was good until about 3 weeks afterwards when I was in a lot of pain and my faced swelled up. I went back to dentist who reopened the site and cleaned out sinus again and stitched me up. He said if it happened again I would have to go to ENT specialist as there was nothing else he could do for me. This was a chronic infection which on the x-rays showed up as the right side of my face being nearly all in shadow from infection. The clean out stayed ok for a couple of weeks but then the horrible taste began again and gum swelled up but not to the extent of before. At this stage I still have an infection and cannot get into ENT until next month. I am so concerned about the damage this is doing on my body and am chronically tired all the time. I have had 3 lots of antibiotics (stagnated) been to a naturopath and tried every remedy know to man. Does this sound like a gum problem or sinus problem and has anyone else gone through this and had a good outcome?? It still oozes and drains disgusting stuff out of this site and makes me feel sick every time it happens. Thank you so much for listening

[missyflitz]

Thanks Bryanna. I have managed to get an emergency appointment with ENT today. I did not have a post put in to the extracted site that has the problem. I had 2 teeth removed at the same time..both failed root canaled teeth. I curse the day I allowed them to do root canal on me but now I have to deal with this the best way I can. Its just weird how the infection blocked the sinus but once the tooth was pulled my sinus just feels so clear but now have this gum infection. I am also guessing the gum has not healed and the infection is now coming through there into my mouth..really not nice at all. I am crossing everything I do not need surgery on my sinus but looks like that is where I am heading..all because of root canal..shame on dentists everywhere

[Bryanna]

Hi missyflitz,

Could you clarify this statement about a post?
<< All seemed to go well and he put a post in the 3rd tooth from front as I am going to get an implant there in a couple of months. >>

It is not your fault for going through with the root canal procedures. You obviously were not fully informed prior to giving your consent. Unfortunately the lack of information given is more common than not :/

What did the ENT DR say?

Originally Posted by missyflitz

Thanks Bryanna. I have managed to get an emergency appointment with ENT today. I did not have a post put in to the extracted site that has the problem. I had 2 teeth removed at the same time..both failed root canaled teeth. I curse the day I allowed them to do root canal on me but now I have to deal with this the best way I can. Its just weird how the infection blocked the sinus but once the tooth was pulled my sinus just feels so clear but now have this gum infection. I am also guessing the gum has not healed and the infection is now coming through there into my mouth..really not nice at all. I am crossing everything I do not need surgery on my sinus but looks like that is where I am heading..all because of root canal..shame on dentists everywhere

[missyflitz]

Just an update on what is happening. I went to ENT who advised that looking at my ct scans could not really work out what was going on. She could see where fistula needed to be repaired on gum and also there was some sort of mass happening in my right sinus ..She believed I had 2 separate problems happening..my sinus and my tooth extraction site..long story short I ended up having surgery last Wednesday. When I spoke to my surgeon the day after she advised surgery went well. The mass showing up on CT was huge infection all through my sinus cavities..all from the root canal !!..so both issues were actually tied together. She fixed the fistula on gum and cleaned out sinus and opened up for me for proper drainage. I am due to go back to her in a weeks time. I am absolutely disgusted that dentists are making a living out of making uninformed patients ill like I have been. I am telling as many people as I can to never ever contemplate root canal. Thank you Bryanna for your insight and please keep getting your message across to all of us.

[Bryanna]

Missyflitz,

So glad to hear that your problem was diagnosed properly and you had the surgery to take care of it. Consider yourself one of the fortune ones because although your situation is common, many times it is not diagnosed or treated properly.

Thank you for posting this update. I hope many others read this because it helps to validate the information that I am providing here.

I wish you well and please check back sometime with an update of your recovery. Take care

Bryanna

Originally Posted by missyflitz

Just an update on what is happening. I went to ENT who advised that looking at my ct scans could not really work out what was going on. She could see where fistula needed to be repaired on gum and also there was some sort of mass happening in my right sinus ..She believed I had 2 separate problems happening..my sinus and my tooth extraction site..long story short I ended up having surgery last Wednesday. When I spoke to my surgeon the day after she advised surgery went well. The mass showing up on CT was huge infection all through my sinus cavities..all from the root canal !!..so both issues were actually tied together. She fixed the fistula on gum and cleaned out sinus and opened up for me for proper drainage. I am due to go back to her in a weeks time. I am absolutely disgusted that dentists are making a living out of making uninformed patients ill like I have been. I am telling as many people as I can to never ever contemplate root canal. Thank you Bryanna for your insight and please keep getting your message across to all of us.

[bradrich11]

That sounds awful,and i get the frustration with the waiting,and being in pain until finally someone realises whats going on. I had MRI because of my ongoing severe pain from right L7 extraction site. Dentist dug around to try and get root out,no success,so i believe my nerve near extraction site was traumatised,if not damaged. i am not sure what nerve ,could be lingual,but tongue isnt always numb,but does have moments.The MRI states i could have sclerosing osteitis,whatever that is,but i was told its infection and inflammation of jaw bone,however a dental consultant says its not,sooooooo am still unsure what all this pain is about. My teeth today feel on edge,i have developed 'odd' mouth movements,where i keep trying to either make saliva,or yet another tooth doesnt feel right. Today my head hurts,so does my face on r/s,and the bottom of my teeth hurt,so does the top actually,and i have a kind of semi numbness going on on top gums.The pain changes,and i never know what im gonna get.I want my life back to what it was.My friends at work are probably fed up with me now,so i dont really mention it.They know my triggers,so tell me off if i so much as look at nuts or an icecream,however i kind of feel alone with it tbh,as no one can truly 'get it' unless they have been through it.I take nortriptyline,vit c,but have to be careful as im on thyroxine,so some meds may interact.I was going to try st johns wort,but i cant mix them with nortriptyline.I did have a go,nothing happened,but was a little apphrehensive. I have had acupuncture,no use to me,i tried Co enyzme q 10 as they are meant to tighten the gums,did not seem to do anything.I have to stock up on my vit b's,but not sure what are the best ones.Please advise of what worked for you all.many thanks in advance. B

[missyflitz]

It has taken me a long long time for somebody to actually listen to what I thought was going on. I spoke to numerous doctors regarding the root canal and my sinus problems and they all denied there would be any connection. This has been going on for the past 4 years. I returned to the ENT surgeon yesterday who confirmed once again that my issues were from the root canal procedure done 4.5 years ago. She could not believe how much "stuff" was in my sinus. She is happy with my healing and was particularly concerned about my gum and surgery she had to perform for the fistula. She is happy with its healing. Its amazing that I can actually breathe clearly for the first time for years. Please if you aren't receiving the answers from who you seeing at the moment keep trying to find the answers elsewhere. I know how frustrating it is trust me but thank goodness I kept looking for the answer. Only you know your body and how you are feeling..

[Vowel Lady]

Missy...thank goodness you persevered and got good tx
and feel better. I'm aghast at what you went through!

You gave me strength to see yet another dentist about a rc tooth of mine. I have enormous fear as it is in the same area I have very painful nerve damage very likely caused by dentists. To say I'm disappointed in this profession would be a gross understatement.

Anyway, VERY happy you are doing better!

[vicki719]

Originally Posted by Bryanna

Hi missyflitz,

This type of infection is so typical with root canaled teeth and most of the time people have no clue this bacterial infection is brewing because symptoms are vague or absent most of the time. ALL root canaled teeth are chronically infected so it is easy for the infection to spread to the jaw bone, the sinus, the brain, the major organs..... and it is truly unfortunate that dentists are not informing their patients about any of this.

Was the implant placed on the same side as the infection? If so, then this could be adding to the problem. It is not wise to wait a month for the ENT doctor. You need to be seen and treated asap. Either see the oral surgeon again or see a new one and get one of them to refer you to an ENT asap.

Don't let anyone keep putting you on antibiotics without further evaluation. Oral antibiotics are not always affective in dealing with this type of long term bone and tissue infection.

I'm sorry you are going through this.... but pay attention to your intuition with this as you instinctively know it needs attention.

Please keep us posted.

I am new here and cannot figure out how to start a new thread. So sorry to "highjack" this thread. (if you can enlighten me, I would appreciate!)

I had a root canal one year ago because a crown loosened without me realizing it, causing severe pain, which resolved for a short time when it was re-cemented. When the pain started again, I was told the tooth was dying and I would need a root canal. After the root canal (actually before) the pain did stop, but the gum area above the tooth remained sensitive (If I pressed on it with my finger, it was sensitive.) Also, the tooth remained sensitive (not to temperature, but to pressure/touch), but not painful. Now a year later, this continues, but seems a bit worse. After reading your posts about rc's and other info, I am thinking I need to extract this tooth, though this is a scary thought for me!

Questions: Do I consult an oral surgeon first? Should I get an x-ray at endo first to see if he can see anything on it? I read that you recommended I should make sure the bone around extracted tooth is scraped and fully cleaned. Will a regular oral surgeon do this or do I need to go to a biologic dentist or someone special? This tooth is upper next to furthest back. I am 62 and in pretty good health. What do I do with this "hole"?

Thanks in advance!