Hi there. I have been having some trouble with my teeth and am increasingly frustrated because my dentist can't quite seem to figure out the solution. I was having very bad pain in my gums between my last molar (for which it is connected to a bridge with the one in front) and my wisdom tooth (top right of my mouth). It got worse and worse, so he put me on antibiotics, which did seem to clear up the infection as the pain went away the middle of last week. But, since we couldn't figure out if the issue was with the molar or the wisdom tooth, so last Friday, I had my wisdom tooth extracted. It was what seemed to be an easy extraction and the hole seems to be healing well. I don't really have any specific pain from the extraction. However, as of yesterday, there is still a very sore part of my gum. Right above the very back of what is now my back tooth. I'm wondering if the problem then, was indeed with this tooth and my bridge in general and if I should have the bridge redone? I've had this bridge since 2001. Or if I should just wait. Would it take time for this infection to continue healing perhaps?? Any advice you have would be SO greatly appreciated. I recently had a baby and am on maternity leave and feel like I'm spending all of my precious time at the dentist instead of with my baby. Thank you in advance!

Welcome CWMB.

Hi CWMB,

Welcome and congratulations on having your baby!!

Anytime you have an extraction, it can take weeks for the site to feel better. However, I am wondering if that molar that is an anchor to your bridge is root canaled and/or infected.

Is the molar or any other tooth associated with the bridge root canaled?

Any chance you could post an xray here?


Bryanna



QUOTE=CWMB;1108692]Hi there. I have been having some trouble with my teeth and am increasingly frustrated because my dentist can't quite seem to figure out the solution. I was having very bad pain in my gums between my last molar (for which it is connected to a bridge with the one in front) and my wisdom tooth (top right of my mouth). It got worse and worse, so he put me on antibiotics, which did seem to clear up the infection as the pain went away the middle of last week. But, since we couldn't figure out if the issue was with the molar or the wisdom tooth, so last Friday, I had my wisdom tooth extracted. It was what seemed to be an easy extraction and the hole seems to be healing well. I don't really have any specific pain from the extraction. However, as of yesterday, there is still a very sore part of my gum. Right above the very back of what is now my back tooth. I'm wondering if the problem then, was indeed with this tooth and my bridge in general and if I should have the bridge redone? I've had this bridge since 2001. Or if I should just wait. Would it take time for this infection to continue healing perhaps?? Any advice you have would be SO greatly appreciated. I recently had a baby and am on maternity leave and feel like I'm spending all of my precious time at the dentist instead of with my baby. Thank you in advance![/QUOTE]

Thank you SO much for your response Bryanna. The tooth associated with the bridge is indeed root canaled. Today, the irritation surrounding it seems to have lessened but it seems to come and go… and always slightly be there. I'm really worried that I may lose this tooth because if so, I will then also lose the fake tooth in the bridge…. and then what do I do?? I will have my 2 back molars missing. It really makes me feel panicked! Any advice is so appreciated!

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Hi CWMB,

Root canaled teeth are chronically infected as there is no access to the hundreds of tiny canals called dentin tubules. So these canals contain necrotic infected nerve tissue. To sum that up, all root canaled teeth are very unhealthy and have the potential of causing or contributing to systemic health problems.

Root canaled teeth are never stable enough to hold a bridge. These teeth have everything wrong with them and are in a very sick and fragile state. When these teeth are drilled upon, it aggravates the inflammation and infection inside the tooth which in turn irritates the nerves and ligament associated with this tooth. Which can trigger other areas of connected nerves that are distant from the tooth. The symptoms you have may wax and wane but the problem of this tooth being infected will not go away. Eventually the bacteria will find a way to release itself and either show up as a fistula (bump poking through the gum above the tooth) or swelling, or if it is an upper tooth it can find it's way into the sinus, or you will develop a deep pocket around this tooth where the bacteria will drain from but where other bacteria will be able to get into.

I am sorry to telly you that the only way to remove the chronic infection is to remove the source which is the rc tooth. Yes, that would ruin your bridge and you would be left with 2 missing molars :/ Your dentist should have informed you about all of this before you agreed to have that bridge done.
I'm sorry to be telling you this after you had the bridge done.

Bryanna




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This is kind of what I figured. I have a lot of irritation still on my gums, but it's hard to say if it's above where the wisdom tooth came out or above the root candled tooth. I have been referred to a root candled specialist and am holding out a tiny bit of hope that perhaps the infection was more to do with the wisdom tooth and is just clearing up. If I do, however (likely) need) the root candled tooth and bridged tooth removed - what would you suggest as tooth replacements? I'm not sure why, but I have a fear of dental implants. Just seems like such a complex procedure. Is it possible to get a 2-tooth denture that I could wear?? Thank you again Bryanna. I really do appreciate your advice and support very much.


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CWMB,

A root canal "specialist" is an endodontist. These dentists only perform root canal therapy and they earn a very lucrative living. They are only likely to offer the option of extraction if they feel the persons health is in immediate danger, or if they get a sense that the patient will be sue them for performing a re treatment or if the patient tells them that their health is more important then their tooth.

You may or may not have irritation where the wisdom tooth was removed. You do have an infected tooth because that tooth is root canaled. All root canaled teeth are chronically infected and harbor gangrenous nerve tissue inside of the tiny canals. There is no procedure or medicine that can remove or cure a root canaled tooth from being infected.

Your replacement options are limited and you would need to speak to your general dentist about what they are as I do not know the health of the rest of mouth. in order to wear any size partial denture, you need at least one back tooth to anchor it to. Dental implants are risky when replacing a root canaled tooth because there is always the possibility of microscopic and residual bacteria in the bone after the tooth is removed.

Bryanna





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