[mmrbest]

I originally posted my story in the occipital neuralgia section. I am not sure what is causing this miserable headache of mine.

My questions are:
1. Can a failed root canal treatment cause chronic debilitating pain even after 1 year after the procedure?
2. Can wisdom tooth extraction result in the aforementioned pain?

My dentists have vigorously denied any such possibility. Are dental procedures related to long term headaches somehow? Nerves? Muscles? Bones?Fluids? No possibility ? I need to eliminate some ideas of mine if I am to find a solution.

[Bryanna]

Hi mmrbest,

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

>>1. Can a failed root canal treatment cause chronic debilitating pain even after 1 year after the procedure?>>

THE PURPOSE OF A ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE IS TO RETAIN A TOOTH THAT HAS AN INFECTION. THE PROCEDURE REMOVES SOME OF THE DISEASED NERVE TISSUE BUT IS NOT ABLE TO REMOVE IT FROM THE HUNDREDS OF TINY CANALS THAT ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE. THE REMAINING NERVE TISSUE DIES AND BECOMES A CHRONIC SOURCE OF INFLAMMATION AND INFECTION. TEETH, LIKE ANY OTHER PART OF THE BODY, REQUIRE VITALITY FROM HEALTHY NERVES SO THEY CAN RECEIVE BLOOD TO SUPPLY LIFE AND NUTRITION TO REMAIN HEALTHY. ANY AREA OF THE BODY THAT HAS A CHRONIC INFLAMMATION AND/OR INFECTION IS GOING TO IRRITATE AND INFLAME NEARBY AREAS WHICH CAN RESULT IN A CHAIN REACTION OF WIDESPREAD PAIN. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, YES AN INFLAMED OR ROOT CANALED TOOTH CAN CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO DEBILITATING PAIN IN AREAS WHERE THE INFLAMMATION AND/OR BACTERIA HAS TRAVELED TOO.

<<2. Can wisdom tooth extraction result in the aforementioned pain?>>

YES, ANY TOOTH EXTRACTION CAN CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO WIDESPREAD PAIN. THE ONE REASON BEING IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE ROOT CANALED TOOTH IN THAT LINGERING BACTERIA IS VERY IRRITATING TO THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND IF NOT RECOGNIZED EARLY ON AS A PROBLEM THEN IT BECOMES MORE WIDESPREAD. ANOTHER THING THAT CAN HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF A TOOTH EXTRACTION, ESPECIALLY A WISDOM TOOTH, IS THAT THE ANESTHETIC INJECTIONS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN PROFOUND ANESTHESIA AND/OR A FORCEFUL MANIPULATION OF THE TOOTH DURING THE EXTRACTION CAN CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO IRRITATION OF THE BUNDLES OF NERVES THAT ARE WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT THE FACE, HEAD, NECK....

<<My dentists have vigorously denied any such possibility.>>

DENIAL BY DENTISTS IS NOT UNCOMMON. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD BLAME EVERYTHING THAT GOES WRONG ON SOMETHING THEY DID OR DIDN'T DO. BUT ALL TOO OFTEN THEY ARE TOO QUICK TO DISMISS THE POSSIBLE CONNECTION. IF YOU WERE TO READ THROUGH SOME OF THESE THREADS YOU WILL SEE HOW PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN BEEN TOLD THAT THEIR PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS/PAIN SIMILAR TO YOURS ARE NOT RELATED TO THE DENTAL WORK THAT THEY HAVE OR ARE HAVING DONE. ONLY TO SOMETIMES DISCOVER THAT THEY WERE RELATED.

<< Are dental procedures related to long term headaches somehow? Nerves? Muscles? Bones?Fluids? No possibility ? >>

YES, THE POSSIBILITY IS THERE FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PATIENT HAS OR IS HAVING A ROOT CANAL OR HAS HAD AN EXTRACTION OF A TOOTH.

HERE IS A LINK TO SHOW JUST A PORTION OF THE NERVES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FACE.
http://www.innerbody.com/image_nervov/nerv09-new.html

HERE IS A LINK TO THE MUSCLES OF THE FACE...
http://www.innerbody.com/anatomy/muscular/head-neck

HERE IS A LINK TO THE BONES OF THE HEAD AND FACE....
http://www.cliffsnotes.com/sciences/...d-facial-bones

<<I need to eliminate some ideas of mine if I am to find a solution>>
I APPLAUD YOU FOR DELVING INTO THIS ON YOUR OWN. IT CAN BE A VERY DAUNTING UNDERTAKING. BUT IF YOU LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE LOCATION OF THE NERVES, MUSCLES AND BONES EVEN BY LOOKING AT THE IMAGES THAT I HAVE PROVIDED AND READ A LITTLE ABOUT THEM, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE CORRELATION OF ALL OF THESE AREAS IN RELATION TO THE TEETH IS EASILY CONNECTED. THIS MAY ALSO HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND HOW A NON VITAL TOOTH, SUCH AS A ROOT CANALED TOOTH, CAN IRRITATE AND INFLAME THE SURROUNDING AREAS AND EVENTUALLY BEYOND THOSE AREAS.

I hope this info is helpful to you. We are here to help you if we can.
Bryanna

[mmrbest]

I thank you very much for responding. My pain has surprisingly decreased in intensity, and I am rejoicing... It has not gone away completely,but more than half of the day it is extremely bearable compared to the previous state. I think I will wait this one out.

Once again, thanks a lot for the info.

[Bryanna]

Hi mmrbest,

I am glad that your pain has subsided.

If you get a chance, please take a look at those links that I shared with you as they are good images of how our teeth relate to other areas of the body.

Be Well,
Bryanna

Originally Posted by mmrbest

I thank you very much for responding. My pain has surprisingly decreased in intensity, and I am rejoicing... It has not gone away completely,but more than half of the day it is extremely bearable compared to the previous state. I think I will wait this one out.

Once again, thanks a lot for the info.