Dear Bryanna and Ginnie:
Thank you so much for a quick reply! Prior to the tooth extraction I was given a 7 day course of amoxicillian (875 mg twice a day). I finished the last pill 12 hours before the teeth were pulled and was not given any other antibiotics since then. The pain medication prescribed was hydrocodone (500 mg every 4 to 6 hours if needed). I have been using the hydrocodone after 5 pm because I am pretty achy by the end of the day. During the day I have taken ibuprofen (400 mg every 5 hours).

The Dr. who did pull the teeth said he could see the roots were extending up into the maxillary sinus from the X-ray but didn't seem to think there would be a problem. I have had no drainage from my nose or mouth and during the extractions with all the irrigation being used, I never felt that up into my nose or head. The Dr. told me that he was very pleased with how the extractions went. He said that root canal teeth are notorious for being brittle and breaking up during extraction and that mine had stayed intact with no breakage (though on my end, the pressure was very intense). I got to see them afterwards - yuck!

Do you think I should request more antibiotics? I have been following the post-op directions and I appreciate your reminder about drinking water. I do think I need to get more rest too. We left the dentist office after the extractions at 2PM on Tuesday and didn't get home until 8:30 that night. I stayed in bed Wednesday but I have went to work yesterday and today and I do feel like I am dragging a bit. Thank gosh for the weekend. Thank you again for all your helpful information

Hi Samantha,

You do not necessarily need another round of antibiotics. So unless you develop complications.... meaning increase of pain, bleeding, swelling, fever, abnormal sinus drainage... you should be okay without the antibiotics.

It is understandable for you to feel wiped out. That is your immune system telling you to take it easy If you can rest for the next 2 days.. it's best to do so. Yes, please drink plenty of water throughout the day. The medications and the bacteria from the infection is all filtering through your blood stream. The water is imperative to remove the toxins from your system. So please drink plenty of water.

I'm glad this dentist was not hesitant to inform you about the down side to root canaled teeth. I wish more dentists would take that stand and not be so quick to recommend them to everyone.

Thanks so much for sharing your story here..... hopefully you will continue to heal well and this will all be behind you in no time!

Please keep in touch!
Bryanna

Hi Bryanna,
Thank you for all the great information. I have looked through several of your other posts and it is sure nice to have an advocate in the patient's corner!

I was wondering what you think about my options in the months ahead for replacing the teeth. I have my concerns about implants and the dentist told me that not all patients are all that happy with the removable partial denture and some just end up going without.

I do have one more root canal on #31 (been there 18 years now) which I am going to have removed after I heal up from this last go around. After I saw my other root canaled teeth and the condition they were in, I don't plan to have any more of those! So with #2, #3 and #31 gone (I am in my forties), I am looking down the line and considering the options.
Thanks again,
Samantha

Hi Samantha,

You are very welcome. Thank you for the kind words ~

Are you missing any other teeth in either arch besides #2, 3 and eventually #31?

Your replacement options are a partial denture or dental implants. Teeth generally need a buddy to bite against. For instance when you're missing a lower tooth, the upper opposing tooth has nothing to bite against. So it will tend to drift downwards into that open space. The same holds true when missing an upper tooth... the lower one tends to drift upwards. This can lead to a misaligned bite, shifting of the other teeth and periodontal pocketing as the tooth drifts. However in your case since tooth #2 is already removed, if you remove #31 (it's opposing tooth) you will not have to replace either one of them. You may consider replacing tooth #3 so that the opposing tooth #30 has a tooth to bite against.

Many people have what is called first molar to first molar occlusion and they do very well with that scenario. That would be what you would ultimately have on your right side if you removed #31 and replaced #3 with an implant.

You have time to think about this. I would suggest that you decide once you have #31 removed.

Hope you are doing well today and getting some rest

Bryanna

Yes, I do take Vitamin D and a recent test showed I was at the highest level recommended for osteoporosis (so taking a break from Vit D right now).

I am not taking bisphosphonates (never have) and the osteo consultant advised not taking them for at least 6 months until the bone had healed. My dental surgeon advised me never to take them.

I've still got some bloody mucus, but it's lessened and is dark brown now, so hoping that is a good sign...

Bruising coming out, swelling gone down tons and not needing any painkillers anymore!



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Hi Lynney,

Great news!!! Sounds like you are coming along just fine.

Good to hear that your dental surgeon advised against the bisphosphonate drugs. You can benefit more from nutritional supplements than you can from these drugs as the supplements enhance your overall health and the drugs certainly do not.

Do you remember what your D level was at when you stopped supplementing? And was it the 25 hydroxy vitamin D test that was done? I'm curious as my physician just had me taper down the dosage when my levels came up to 65 ng/dl.

Bryanna

Thanks Bryanna for the reassurance, I must admit I was a bit worried about the dark brown stuff, but it is lessening (and it is only a week since I had the surgery).

Yes, it was the same Vit D test. Unfortunately I had got a bit high (76 ng/dl) so it was recommended I stop for the summer (if we ever get one here in the uk!!)

Lynney,

The idea with supplementing with vitamin d is to take enough of a dose over a period of time so that your blood work shows that you have ample stored in your body. You will utilize that supply and need to supplement again. I just don't want you to think once the serum level comes up that it automatically stays there... because it doesn't. The level of D decreases as you utilize it. Just wondering, were you supplementing with any other vitamins or minerals at the same time as vitamin D to help absorb it?

Bryanna




QUOTE=Lynney;977356]Thanks Bryanna for the reassurance, I must admit I was a bit worried about the dark brown stuff, but it is lessening (and it is only a week since I had the surgery).

Yes, it was the same Vit D test. Unfortunately I had got a bit high (76 ng/dl) so it was recommended I stop for the summer (if we ever get one here in the uk!!) [/QUOTE]

Hi Bryanna,

Thank you for the replacement option information. I have made an appt. for root canal #31 to be removed later in May. I am now 8 days since the extraction of #2 and #3 and I think I am doing pretty well. I do not need any pain medications or Advil any longer. My gums still feel a little achy and stretched like feelings at time but otherwise it seems OK. One think that has come up is that I now have a white coating on my tongue and yucky breath that doesn't seem to go away with brushing or swishing with salt water. Could this be coming from a combination of the previous antibiotics (like a thrush situation) and/or the infection that was previously down in the gumline /jawbone area of those root canaled teeth? I am really hitting the probiotics and swishing with salt water. Any thoughts on what else I should do for this?
Thanks,
Samantha

Hi Samantha,

A white coating on the tongue can indicate a thrush, dehydration, mouth breathing or it could also be an accumulation of food debris. Smokers and people who use decongestants also often have a white tongue. Do you brush or scrape your tongue as part of your oral hygiene regimen? If not, then buy a tongue scraper and use it (gently) once a day at bedtime .... see if that helps.