Hi fly girl,

You are very welcome... we are here to help if we can :)

Please don't blame yourself for any of this. You should have been given the suggestion to see an ENT prior the the rct....there is no way you would have known to do that on your own. The other issue is that this tooth may be fractured and if that were the case from the beginning, the only solution would have been to remove it.... but chances are, you would have been sold on doing the root canal procedure because you would have been told that you could "keep" this tooth. It is not your fault that you were not properly informed of the risks of root canal therapy in relation to the ultimate condition of the tooth and how that relates to your sinuses. Rarely does a dentist inform his/her patients about any of that.... and for that, I'm sorry.

I think it's wise to consult with an oral surgeon who is also an MD as they generally welcome the knowledge of the patient who is concerned about the systemic consequences. They also have a great deal of surgical experience when encountering sinus perforations all of shapes and sizes.

Please keep us posted on your consult..... we're here if you need support!

Bryanna

I realize I didn't put in my name, but it's kinda cute to be called Flygirl!

As a matter of fact, that tooth had a fracture that was unrepaired for years. Dentists mentioned it, but didn't say anything about putting on a crown until the root canal.

I especially feel stupid now because I'm a pharmacist, and over the past 7 years I've done a ton of research on alternative medicine, vitamins, homeopathy, and I even advise people on that. I take no medications besides a handful of vitamins daily, I eat organic, I don't use toxic cleaners or cosmetics. But yet in my own history, look what I did! Oh, if I could turn back the clock.

Yes, in 2 weeks, I go see a DDS/MD who has a residency in oral surgery and is board certified. I thought those were good credentials. Hopefully, the sinus is unaffected, but if it is, he can fix it. For that advice, I have to thank you again, Bryanna, because in other responses, you told people to go to oral surgeons, not just a dentist, for these procedures.

Many, many thanks. I'll post again after I visit the surgeon. In the meantime, I'll keep reading to offer support to everybody else!
Stacy

Hi fly girl
 

I will be thinking of you and wishing you a speedy recovery. You didn't know any different about this tooth because you were not told. Don't feel bad, it will be OK and you will heal good. Be brave. ginnie:hug:

Thanks Bryanna for being here on this site for us. I am ever so grateful for your experience with these things, to be able to help a person. ginnie:hug:

Hi Stacy,

I thought flygirl sounded pretty cute too ;-)

So I was correct in that the tooth was fractured! Sometimes I think I've been in this profession for too many years and just seen too many of the same scenarios!

A fractured tooth can cause all sorts of symptoms that sometimes seem unrelated or distant to the affected tooth. In other words, the discomfort or pain can feel like it's coming from the gum or the sinus or the teeth next to the fractured one. Depending on where the fracture is, sometimes tyhe tooth can be stabilized with a crown....other times it cannot. Some dentists root canal fractured teeth with the intention of "saving" the tooth. The truth is, the root canal does nothing to repair the fracture and only causes further damage and bacteria inside of the tooth.

I am SO impressed with your open mindedness about alternative medicine and how much effort you put in to your own health! I'm guessing that you sought this out because you want to avoid being sick like many of the people you see every day. Good for you!!! I am always floored at the menagerie of meds my patients are taking and they have no clue how sick these meds are making them. Like many of us, we want to trust our doctor and believe that he is leading us down the right path. I hope your advice to people is well taken and they at least try your suggestions.

Your professional background enables you to appreciate the complexities associated with bacterias that are confined in tiny, warm spaces like the microscopic canals inside of a tooth. You have a very good idea of what is cooking in there..... I wish I could convey this message better to those who don't have your background. Any suggestions?

I'm sorry you are dealing with this situation but I am so glad that you are here to share your story and insight with others. Please keep us informed of your visit.... and I'm hoping you will then stick around for awhile longer!!!!!

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna, in my experience as a pharmacist, people fell into two camps: those who were open to alternatives to modern medicine and those who weren't. I could immediately tell who was who. If they wanted modern medicine, they got it, but if they wanted to be healthy, I would spend all day talking to them about appropriate supplements and lifestyle changes. Of course, most of what I talk about I had to teach myself because my formal training was centered around modern medical treatment. I read a lot of studies, most of which are European since their governments fund research into vitamins.

The simple fact is that you will either spend money keeping yourself healthy or you will spend even more trying to get well. The more successful approach is the first one, and that's what I do for myself and anyone who will listen.

Anyway, I can picture what is growing in the dark in my sinuses! It's just like a cat bite--sounds so harmless, but I've seen very serious infections from cat bites where people had to be hospitalized for systemic infections. That's honestly why I don't have a cat! Their teeth puncture your skin, and plant those bacteria in your tissues, and it's a big mess.

I don't know how to make everyone understand, but there are definitely people who are open to alternatives. I think as we hear more and more about how unsafe modern medicines are, people are waking up.

10 days now til I go see the oral surgeon for a consult! I promise I won't cancel.

Recent extraction
 

Hi Bryanna,

Just wondering if I can also get some dental advice from you? I had a root canal on my farthest back molar six months ago. All of my molar roots go right into my sinus and I had a chronic sinus throb on that side for the next five months. After multiple dentists, endodontists, x-rays, CT scan and visit to and ENT, nobody could tell me what was wrong and all said there was no infection. Ten days ago I decided to have the tooth extracted and sure enough, it was infected right to the base of the sinus and sinus exposed. I was put on 10 days of antiobiotics (finished now) and have been taking good care of it. The site of extraction itself seems to be healing well but I am still having the throbbing pain around the other molars in the area and into my sinus.

From reading many of these threads, it sounds like maybe there is more infection or perhaps more infected teeth. How do I find this out definitively when nothing is showing up in xrays, CT or blood work? And what are my options if more teeth are involved? I just don't know who to go to any more. The extraction was done by an oral surgeon and he seemed to think it would heal fine. Maybe I;m just rushing it? It has only been 10 days.

Hi Stacy,

I so agree with you!!! The amount of money spent on meds that seriously make people very ill is unbelievable! I always approach the alternative ideas with patients and if they are open to it, I spend countless time with them discussing it. If they are standoffish.... I still put the bug in their ear!

I'm marking my calendar for 10 days from now for your appt.... so you have to go!!!!

Have a good weekend......
Bryanna

Hi Clegs,

I will certainly try to help........

First, your situation is the perfect example of what I have been preaching on this site about root canaled teeth and infection. Not all infections will necessarily show up on xrays or CT scans or even in blood work until they have proliferated and started to compromise the immune system. It really doesn't matter if they show up or not because all root canaled teeth are infected, as you have found out with this tooth.

Ten days of antibiotic may not be enough to eradicate the infection. I would consult with the oral surgeon, have him take an xray and evaluate the area clinically. You may need to see the ENT again also for a sinus scan. I have had patients who had to go on IV antibiotics, some even pic lines, to deal with the oral infection. This is why I keep harping on the systemic risks associated with oral infections primarily from root canaled teeth. It can become very serious.

It is hard to tell if other teeth are involved because an infected sinus will cause pressure and pain in all of the teeth in that area. By any chance.... do you have any other root canaled teeth in that quadrant??

Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,

Thanks so much for your reply. I don't have any other root canals in the area (or in my mouth for that matter) although the tooth directly adjacent to the extraction has a shallow filling. Otherwise, there aren't any fillings on that upper half.

I will happily go back on antibiotics if that might help clear up the infection I guess my worry is just the thought of it spreading to other teeth. But if they are seemingly healthy teeth (as mine are), can an infection spread up through the jaw bone and down into a tooth with no opening (crack, fracture, etc)? And what would be the diagnosis/treatment for this?

The other thing I've read a little about is jaw cavitation, osteonecrosis and the concern over whether the periodontal ligament was removed with the extraction? Can you shed any light on this and whether or not I should be concerned?

Thanks again for your help!

Hi Clegs,

Ok, good that you don't have any other root canaled teeth and it sounds like your other teeth are pretty healthy. So hopefully at this point the infection from that (extracted) tooth had not spread too much further and your discomfort/pressure is coming this one area.

Yes, any oral infection can spread throughout the mouth... as well as into the throat, digestive system, the sinus, the brain and any major vital organ. So it is imperative to remove the source of the infection as soon as possible and not allow it to brew and proliferate as in the case of all root canaled teeth and uncontrolled periodontal disease.

You are wise to read up on subjects like osteonecrosis, cavitations and removal of the periodontal ligament. All or some of which can occur depending on how far the infection has spread... how well the surgery was performed to remove it and how healthy the immune system is of the patient.

I will reiterate my suggestion for you to see your oral surgeon so he can evaluate the site clinically and radio-graphically. Do not be shy in asking him if he removed the ligament and what his thoughts are on the risk of developing a jawbone infection from a lingering sinus infection that was caused by this infected root canaled tooth.

There are many different scenarios that can happen, but I don't want to overwhelm you with this stuff as you might not have to be concerned about any of that. Let's first see what the surgeon says..... ok?

Bryanna