Hi, In early July I had a painful left cheekbone. I thought I had a sinus infection, but after a few days I realized that my cheekbone pain occurred after eating or drinking something warm. I went to my dentist and was diagnosed with a tooth abscess in tooth 14. He did a vitality test and I never felt a thing. I had a root canal and didn't think any more about it until recently. About a month after my root canal I started having pretty severe pain in my left little finger joint. I didn't injure that finger. Shortly after this point I had strep throat. 2 weeks later I noticed that my shoulders were both very stiff. After another 2 weeks almost all of my joints are painful. I started searching online trying to figure out what is going on with me. Everything keeps pointing toward rheumatoid arthritis. After repeated searches I stumbled upon the connection between root canals and serious illnesses like RA. I made an appt with my doctor and he tested me for RA, lupus and gout. Luckily everything came back negative, but I am still in a lot of pain. I was diagnosed with synovitis. In searching synovitis, it sounds like a precursor to a RA diagnosis to me. I have had the joint pain for 6 weeks now. I want this tooth pulled in order to see if my symptoms disappear afterward. My dentist doesn't want to pull it, so I made an appt in mid October at a biological dentist an hour away. Am I on the right track? What is a safe way to replace this tooth? I don't like bridges since you have to destroy 2 teeth. I've heard implants aren't healthy. Do I just go with an empty spot? Thanks for any guidance!

Welcome Buster23.

Thanks Kitt!

Hi Buster,

It is refreshing to read your post as you connect the dots between your oral and systemic health. Ancient chinese medicine and others similar are convinced that our oral health is the window to our overall well being. My lengthy career in dentistry has without question shown me to believe that connection is very real in every one of us.

Here is an interesting tooth and organ chart. Perhaps you have seen this before? http://naturaldentistry.us/holistic-...nitas-dentist/

The ideal way to look at this chart is to first find the tooth in question. In your case it would be tooth #14. Click on that tooth and you will see the names of connecting organs and various other sections of the body come up on the right of the chart. Now click on the tooth in front, #13, then #15, then the teeth below that line up with those teeth. So that would be #18, #19, #20. The reason you would do it this way is because all of these teeth intricately share the same nerve meridians which means they are intricately connected. I think you will find it interesting what comes up!

I just want to make a note here about blood test results..... standard serum tests can only detect a problem when the problem is chronic or severe enough to be picked up in the blood specimen. So a negative serum test does not necessarily mean that an illness or disease is not brewing in the system.

Seeking a biological dentist will hopefully become a great fit for you and he will be knowledgeable and willing to openly share his opinion on root canaled teeth. Can I ask you where you found the name of this biological dentist?

Regarding the replacement of this tooth. Your options may be a permanent bridge which does require cutting down the adjacent teeth, .....a permanent onlay bridge which requires minimal cutting down of the adjacent teeth,.... a removal appliance called a Nesbit which snaps in and out and replaces that one tooth but it is worn for esthetics and to keep the other teeth from sliding in towards the open space, not for eating..... or a dental implant made of either zircoium or titanium. The research indicates that they are both bio compatible materials providing the recipient is not allergic or sensitive to them. The titanium tends to build up a bio film around it where as the zirconium tends not to build up that same bio film. However, if the bone is healthy and the patient is healthy that bio film does not usually pose a problem.

Hope you found this information helpful.
Bryanna

Thank you very much Bryanna! I found the biological dentist through internet searches. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go there or not. Then I remembered an acquaintance who is extremely health conscience and holistic, so I asked her where she goes for dental work and it was the same place I found online. I have an appt Oct 15th. I appreciate your advice. What you said about negative blood tests and brewing diseases makes sense. I know, with all my being, that I am in the early stages of RA and I am also positive that my root canal is the culprit. I am leaning toward an implant right now. I can't wait to get this tooth pulled and be on the road to recovery.

I had my appt today and am not sure what to think. My X-Ray showed a dark spot above my root canal. They said that could be infection or it could be nothing to worry about. They want me to have it tested by an acupuncture dentist. Apparently he can tell if the root canal is bad by poking my finger. I have 2 baby teeth (no permanent). They want me to have these tested by the acupuncturist too, for a total of $250. Any thoughts?

I also wanted to add that when I get my heart rate up I notice my pulse in the gums above my root canal (which was 3 months ago)...normal or not?

Hi Buster

The truth of the matter is this, sometimes dentists are hesitant to suggest the removal of a root canaled tooth especially to a new patient because they know that this suggestion is frowned upon by most of their peers and certainly by the big kahunas that govern the dental societies. No one wants to jeopardize their livelihood by going against the tide which I have seen happen many times. So if the tooth is not yet a full blown abscess, they may suggest to let it wait or have it "tested" by various means. Ironically, most of the testing methods even though there is some validity to them, are also frowned upon by those same kahunas. It's all about passing the baton to the next guy so as to not have to stand alone on the decision and through this action it confirms that the "patient" ultimately made the decision to remove this tooth. There are some dentists who do not bother to jump through these hoops and just lay down the facts as they are and take their chances with the rest of it. Fortunately that number of dentists is growing but at a snails pace. I hope I have explained that okay. If not let me know and I will try to put it another way.

The fact is that all root canaled teeth are chronically infected and there is no way around that nor is there any means of making that tooth healthy again. The darkened spot above the root as you have stated indicates that the bacteria has proliferated beyond the tooth. Some dentists will even call if "scar tissue". Generally that dark area is a cyst, similar to a pimple, and it is collecting bacteria as a means of trying to contain it within that space. However, due to the vascularity of the mouth that cyst will continue to be nourished by the blood, it will continue to grow and the bacteria will continue to multiply.

The acupuncturist can identify which meridians this tooth follows and where they lead to elsewhere in the body. He can tell you if he feels there are any irritations or disruptions along those meridians at this exact time. But he cannot tell you that this tooth is nothing to worry about for the long term.

The retained deciduous teeth can become a problem so they need to be monitored. Frequently these teeth end up infected and need to be removed. But dental x-rays are pretty good at detecting problems with these type of teeth.

Two things.... if you decide to see the acupuncturist, keep in mind what I have told you here about the information that he is able to provide to you. Also, if you decide to remove this tooth, before choosing a dentist to do that, make these questions a part of that discussion:

1)Unless he is an oral surgeon, ask him if he performs oral surgery on a regular basis?

2) Does he remove the periodontal ligament, debride the socket of all necrotic tissue and bone and rinse with copious amounts of saline?

3) Does he place bone grafts, if so, what material does he recommend using and why?

If you can and you want to, post the xray here. Let me know if you have other questions...
Bryanna

Buster,

That pulsating sensation in the area above this tooth would generally indicate that there is a cyst present and it is in close proximity to your sinus. The cyst could either be pushing on the sinus membrane or could have perforated it. Either scenario is not healthy and could lead to further problems with your sinuses.

Did you tell the dentist about this symptom? If so, what did he say?

Bryanna

Thank you very Bryanna. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your advice. I have not felt well since the root canal. It seems odd to me that it is my mouth and I am willing to pay to have the tooth removed and I am having a hard time finding someone to do it. I understand what you say about the big kahunas. I guess it's a good thing that I am stubborn. One way or another, this tooth is coming out, ligament and all. If I am wrong and my other symptoms don't clear up afterward, oh well. What I am not willing to do it let it fester and continually feel worse and worse. OK, I am done now . What you are telling me goes along with my gut instinct. Again, thank you for you input. You are helping me and a lot of other people immensely.