[Meera Dasi]

Hi Bryanna, hope you are well today.
I have a question for you- I guess you remember my root canal extraction story, and how I now have a Carlson Bridge that caused me quite some trouble for the first two weeks.
Well- tomorrow, I go - yet again- to see my dentist and to see how things are going with my bridge, and what else is going on, as I still feel something is not quite right. Even though my discomfort has lessened a LOT this past week, concerning the bridge I mean, and I am getting used to eating with the bridge and it does feel much less "weird" and "strange" as it did in the beginning.
HOWEVER! Something is still amiss. And I am now wondering, if maybe there is residual infection lingering around in the area of the extracted tooth (tooth nr 5). It was a root canaled tooth, and when the oral surgeon removed it about 3 months ago, he also removed all the dead tissue/bone, but one thing struck me kind of odd- during the surgery (I was awake, only local anesthesia, so he explained everything he was doing and observing to me) :" Oh, it is good you got this RC removed, no wonder it always felt funny and painful, because I can see here that the tip of the root of the tooth is growing/reaching into you facial tissue/cheek!". Now, I first thought he meant reaching into the sinus cavity, but he said, no, not at all, it was reaching into the soft tissue of my face! He also said it would have been worse if it had perforated the sinus cavity, and that it was not a problem. Well- I am beginning to think that there is some residual infection left there, because I do feel discomfort still close to my nostril on that side, and on the upper cheek, and when I look into the mirror, it looks slightly puffy, just the way it had looked when I had the root canal- most people cannot seem to tell, but I have noticed it long ago.
Now, as I am going to the dentist tomorrow, I am wondering what could be done to determine if there is indeed some infection left? Because, I can feel SOMETHING there, and sometimes I still get a slightly weird taste in that area, even though I cannot pinpoint it to one tooth like I could before. So, that is a strong indicator, I would think. But- how can my dentist see if this is true? My gums look fine, not reddened at all, so no obviousl sign of infection... I am also very scared that I will have to have the bridge removed in order to take care of the infection- I cannot pay for another bridge
When I had my post surgery check up at the oral surgeon, the xray of the site looked fine and he said all was healing well. But could it be that the infection is lingering in the soft tissue? What does that even mean, my root was reaching into the facial tissue/ cheek???
THANK YOU so much-
Meera

[Bryanna]

Meera,

Is it possible that the dentist who removed the tooth was making reference to the infection at the tip of the root and not actually the root itself? Because the tooth was completely formed so the root was not able to "grow" any further. Perhaps he said something like <<the infection at the tip of the root is growing into the tissue towards the cheek>>?? Something like that frequently occurs from root canaled teeth and is not always visible until the tooth is removed. That type of infection is a cyst of lumpy tissue that is attached to the end of the root on one end and the other end adheres itself to the soft tissue underneath the gum tissue. When these are diagnosed, they should be completely scraped out when the tooth is removed. Sometimes it is very difficult to remove the entire cyst because it may still be attached to the tissue microscopically. Other times the cyst is removed but scar tissue develops, which may or may not be troublesome. Sometimes after the cyst is removed there is a void or permanent indentation in that area of the gum tissue.

Your dentist can take one or two x-rays of that area which could show if there is still pathology in that tissue or bone. He can also palpate around the circumference of that area and feel for any lumps, etc.

Bryanna

Originally Posted by Meera Dasi

Hi Bryanna, hope you are well today.
I have a question for you- I guess you remember my root canal extraction story, and how I now have a Carlson Bridge that caused me quite some trouble for the first two weeks.
Well- tomorrow, I go - yet again- to see my dentist and to see how things are going with my bridge, and what else is going on, as I still feel something is not quite right. Even though my discomfort has lessened a LOT this past week, concerning the bridge I mean, and I am getting used to eating with the bridge and it does feel much less "weird" and "strange" as it did in the beginning.
HOWEVER! Something is still amiss. And I am now wondering, if maybe there is residual infection lingering around in the area of the extracted tooth (tooth nr 5). It was a root canaled tooth, and when the oral surgeon removed it about 3 months ago, he also removed all the dead tissue/bone, but one thing struck me kind of odd- during the surgery (I was awake, only local anesthesia, so he explained everything he was doing and observing to me) :" Oh, it is good you got this RC removed, no wonder it always felt funny and painful, because I can see here that the tip of the root of the tooth is growing/reaching into you facial tissue/cheek!". Now, I first thought he meant reaching into the sinus cavity, but he said, no, not at all, it was reaching into the soft tissue of my face! He also said it would have been worse if it had perforated the sinus cavity, and that it was not a problem. Well- I am beginning to think that there is some residual infection left there, because I do feel discomfort still close to my nostril on that side, and on the upper cheek, and when I look into the mirror, it looks slightly puffy, just the way it had looked when I had the root canal- most people cannot seem to tell, but I have noticed it long ago.
Now, as I am going to the dentist tomorrow, I am wondering what could be done to determine if there is indeed some infection left? Because, I can feel SOMETHING there, and sometimes I still get a slightly weird taste in that area, even though I cannot pinpoint it to one tooth like I could before. So, that is a strong indicator, I would think. But- how can my dentist see if this is true? My gums look fine, not reddened at all, so no obviousl sign of infection... I am also very scared that I will have to have the bridge removed in order to take care of the infection- I cannot pay for another bridge
When I had my post surgery check up at the oral surgeon, the xray of the site looked fine and he said all was healing well. But could it be that the infection is lingering in the soft tissue? What does that even mean, my root was reaching into the facial tissue/ cheek???
THANK YOU so much-
Meera

[Meera Dasi]

Thanks for the explanation, Bryanna, I apppreciate it.
Hmmm, I am pretty sure he said that my root was basically so long and had a bend at the end, where it reached into soft tissue/cheek tissue... I do not know if something like that is even possible?? He then said that the filling (of the root canal) was basically leaking out of the root tip and into the soft tissue, causing discomfort and infection. He explained that it would have been totally impossible to retain such a tooth because of how my root was shaped. The sucky part is, that I also suffer from TMJ, and it sometimes is quite confusing trying to differentiate the discomfort from that, from any other issues. Oh, the manigfold issues we can have with our bodies!!
I will ask for thorough Xrays tomorrow. I almost hope that something will be found, because then at least I would know where my issues come from. It sucks so much trying to figure out what is going on. I will report back tomorrow after my appt.
Thanks again!

Originally Posted by Bryanna

Meera,

Is it possible that the dentist who removed the tooth was making reference to the infection at the tip of the root and not actually the root itself? Because the tooth was completely formed so the root was not able to "grow" any further. Perhaps he said something like <<the infection at the tip of the root is growing into the tissue towards the cheek>>?? Something like that frequently occurs from root canaled teeth and is not always visible until the tooth is removed. That type of infection is a cyst of lumpy tissue that is attached to the end of the root on one end and the other end adheres itself to the soft tissue underneath the gum tissue. When these are diagnosed, they should be completely scraped out when the tooth is removed. Sometimes it is very difficult to remove the entire cyst because it may still be attached to the tissue microscopically. Other times the cyst is removed but scar tissue develops, which may or may not be troublesome. Sometimes after the cyst is removed there is a void or permanent indentation in that area of the gum tissue.

Your dentist can take one or two x-rays of that area which could show if there is still pathology in that tissue or bone. He can also palpate around the circumference of that area and feel for any lumps, etc.

Bryanna

[Bryanna]

Meera,

Okay so I think this is what the dentist was talking about........

<<The root tip was long and curved, which is not unusual, and the root canal filling material had perforated through the tip of the root>>.

This perforation is an "oops" and occurred when the root canal procedure was done.... and this is not unusual either. The filling material was not only a constant irritant because it was not suppose to be there, but it attracted bacteria to adhere to it making the infection worse.

It can be difficult to remove that filling material completely if it became embedded deep in the tissue. In some cases after the extraction complications arise from the material still being there while other times it does not. The constant irritant that you feel may be a piece of that filling material. It is important to tell your dentist today the story about the rc filling material being perforated through the root tip. This will give him a clue of what to look for on the x-rays because it can be so tiny that he really has to deliberately be looking for something. I hope I explained that clearly.

Bryanna

Originally Posted by Meera Dasi

Thanks for the explanation, Bryanna, I apppreciate it.
Hmmm, I am pretty sure he said that my root was basically so long and had a bend at the end, where it reached into soft tissue/cheek tissue... I do not know if something like that is even possible?? He then said that the filling (of the root canal) was basically leaking out of the root tip and into the soft tissue, causing discomfort and infection. He explained that it would have been totally impossible to retain such a tooth because of how my root was shaped. The sucky part is, that I also suffer from TMJ, and it sometimes is quite confusing trying to differentiate the discomfort from that, from any other issues. Oh, the manigfold issues we can have with our bodies!!
I will ask for thorough Xrays tomorrow. I almost hope that something will be found, because then at least I would know where my issues come from. It sucks so much trying to figure out what is going on. I will report back tomorrow after my appt.
Thanks again!

[janieburmy]

Hi Bryanna
I'm happy for you to tell this person about what was left in my extraction as it does sound a little similar.

[Bryanna]

Hi Janie,

Yes, thank you. To disclose that information..... the oral surgeon who you saw for a second opinion after your dentist told you everything was fine... discovered a piece of root canal filling material still in the socket of the extracted tooth. Along with a sinus perforation from the adjacent dental implant.

Thank you Janie
Bryanna

Originally Posted by janieburmy

Hi Bryanna
I'm happy for you to tell this person about what was left in my extraction as it does sound a little similar.