[woodyfly]

I'm considering extracting all my root canaled tooth. I had one pulled 2 days ago. The xrays did show a darkening area at the root of the tooth but we couldn't tell what it was exactly. I took the risk and extracted it. Turns out the tooth was fractured and also had a 10 year abscess.

I'm now also considering getting rid up the upper right root canaled tooth.
1. Can anyone check out this xray and let me know if you see anything?
2. Can you tell what kind of fillings I have from the xray?

[Bryanna]

Hi woodfly,

Glad to hear that you had an abscessed tooth removed and as you now know, not all infections show up radio graphically.

Thank you for posting the xray.

The filling material on the molar looks to be amalgam and there are light shadows underneath 2 areas of the filling that may be decay. They are very light and may show up more clearly on a different xray called a bite wing.

The filling material on the root canaled pre molar appears to be metal, may be amalgam or gold on the distal portion and composite or temporary material on the remainder of it. There is a void, most likely decay, in the center portion of this tooth where the access hole was made to do the root canal procedure. It is the half moon shape you see in the center where the root canal filling material (gutta percha) begins. This area of decay is progressive.

Sometimes the angle of which the film was taken is off a bit and the anatomy is distorted. However, on this xray both of these teeth appear to be in close proximity to the sinus. There could be a fracture or something happening at the apex of the rc premolar and it's questionable if there is pathology in the bone.

There is also possible decay interproximally on both the mesial and distal of the first premolar.

What has your dentist diagnosed from this xray and from his clinical examination?

Bryanna

Originally Posted by woodyfly

I'm considering extracting all my root canaled tooth. I had one pulled 2 days ago. The xrays did show a darkening area at the root of the tooth but we couldn't tell what it was exactly. I took the risk and extracted it. Turns out the tooth was fractured and also had a 10 year abscess.

I'm now also considering getting rid up the upper right root canaled tooth.
1. Can anyone check out this xray and let me know if you see anything?
2. Can you tell what kind of fillings I have from the xray?

[Femlex]

Originally Posted by woodyfly

I'm considering extracting all my root canaled tooth. I had one pulled 2 days ago. The xrays did show a darkening area at the root of the tooth but we couldn't tell what it was exactly. I took the risk and extracted it. Turns out the tooth was fractured and also had a 10 year abscess.

Hi woodyfly! I am in a similar situation like yourself and it is great to see this thread and Bryanna's replies.
I am also very interested to hear more about the RC tooth that you have extracted 2 days ago. Would you mind telling me a bit more of any issues you might have had with it? Did you have any sinus/facial/head issues at all? Did your tooth hurt at all? What prompted you to pull it?

Also, do you have any xrays of the tooth before it was extracted that you could post here? Or the xray you might have taken did not show anything at all (well, at least to your dentist)?

Thank you!

[woodyfly]

Originally Posted by Femlex

Hi woodyfly! I am in a similar situation like yourself and it is great to see this thread and Bryanna's replies.
I am also very interested to hear more about the RC tooth that you have extracted 2 days ago. Would you mind telling me a bit more of any issues you might have had with it? Did you have any sinus/facial/head issues at all? Did your tooth hurt at all? What prompted you to pull it?

Also, do you have any xrays of the tooth before it was extracted that you could post here? Or the xray you might have taken did not show anything at all (well, at least to your dentist)?

Thank you!

The tooth itself had no issues, I NEVER had any pain, just a very mild cold sensitivity at the most I'm guessing the reason why it never hurt is because it's a root canaled tooth, no nerves for me to feel any pain. However, I knew this tooth had an infection for over a decade because I remember going to a dentist about 8 years ago and he told me that tooth was infected.

The xrays did show some darkening of the root but we weren't sure exactly what it could have been.

I had it pulled it due to an endless myriad of symptoms I had over the years that made no sense, I'm only in my 20s. Headaches were the main problem but I also had facial/sinus problems. Overall, I just felt sick for no reason. It's only day 3 but I believe my anxiety has gone down, my appetite has gotten better and my constant negative thinking is gone.

Does your xrays show anything wrong with them? In my case, both of the root canaled tooth showed problems on it, both had infections and I've had both for many many years. I'm not sure sure I would randomly extract all my root canaled tooth if there werent any signs to begin with

[woodyfly]

Originally Posted by Bryanna

Hi woodfly,

Glad to hear that you had an abscessed tooth removed and as you now know, not all infections show up radio graphically.

Thank you for posting the xray.

The filling material on the molar looks to be amalgam and there are light shadows underneath 2 areas of the filling that may be decay. They are very light and may show up more clearly on a different xray called a bite wing.

The filling material on the root canaled pre molar appears to be metal, may be amalgam or gold on the distal portion and composite or temporary material on the remainder of it. There is a void, most likely decay, in the center portion of this tooth where the access hole was made to do the root canal procedure. It is the half moon shape you see in the center where the root canal filling material (gutta percha) begins. This area of decay is progressive.

Sometimes the angle of which the film was taken is off a bit and the anatomy is distorted. However, on this xray both of these teeth appear to be in close proximity to the sinus. There could be a fracture or something happening at the apex of the rc premolar and it's questionable if there is pathology in the bone.

There is also possible decay interproximally on both the mesial and distal of the first premolar.

What has your dentist diagnosed from this xray and from his clinical examination?

Bryanna

Long story short, this upper tooth had a root canal that was infected. I got a root canal retreat about 3 weeks ago. I will be going to a dentist next week to get my fillings. However from what I understand, root canals don't completely get rid of the infection? I'm considering extracting it because I think it's affecting my sinuses.

I am attaching two sets of photos. The pano is taken before any retreats or extractions

The second picture are taken AFTER he did the "most" of the root canal (he cleaned out the tooth or whatever but didn't finish putting in the material)

I posted my pano a while back and you said that my bottom left tooth had an infection and possible fracture. You were right. In that case, doing a root canal would have done nothing. I almost did a root canal on that bottom tooth. I feel like perhaps this is possibly the same case for my upper tooth? That that root canal retreat is gonna do nothing and it would be better to extract it?

Just by looking at the xrays, do you think an extraction or root canal is better for my upper right?

[Femlex]

Hi woodyfly and thank you for the explanations!

Your symptoms are fairly similar to my case, except that my RC tooth is not showing any conclusive infection on the xrays. Mine is an upper front tooth. I have zero pain in the tooth (never had any, just like yourself), but (on good days) my main problem seem to be concentrated under my right nostril (which coincides with the root tip of this tooth). Coincidence? I very much doubt it. No "bumps" on the gums that I can feel or see, but there is a feeling that the internal soft tissue is much harder than other tissue. On bad days, I feel heat and other symptoms in the eye, ear, tonsil, throat, down the neck, sometimes even all the way along the shoulder to the tip of the arm. All on that (right) side only.

One thing is that this tooth has always had problems, even while they were cleaning it. I have another thread which explains lots of details - all about this case. I am waiting to see my dentist, but his waiting list is long.

The xrays did show some darkening of the root but we weren't sure exactly what it could have been.
I can see on your panoramic view you posted later that there is a dark area under one of the roots of your lower-jaw molar RC-ed tooth. Is that the tooth and the darkening you are talking about?

Also, being a lower jaw tooth, did you have any problem with the extraction? Did your dentist scrape all the infected area and if yes, how long it took? Was it your general dentist or an oral surgeon who did the extraction?

How are you feeling now? Are you in any pain? Are you taking any antibiotics?

Take care!!

[Bryanna]

Woodfly,

Thanks for posting all of the xrays.

Both root canaled teeth are infected because the dentin tubules contain infected necrotic nerve tissue. In addition to that fact, they both show pathology on the radio graphs.

The lower left molar has a large area of bacterial pathology around the mesial (front) root. The root of the upper right premolar is either in close proximity or directly into the sinus. The sinus, is blocking the view of the pathology around the apex of the tooth. It is also blocking the health of the molar behind this tooth.

If you look at the panorex and compare the posterior area of your upper right with your upper left, you will see the sinus hovering over and around your premolar and molar areas on both sides. Your upper right sinus area is considerably darker more radiolucent looking compared to your left. When this radio graphic finding is seen in an area where there is a root canaled or infected tooth, it generally indicates proliferation of bacteria and inflammation from that root canaled or infected tooth.

The pressure from that bacteria and inflammation could cause headaches, sinus pressure or infection, eye, ear, gland problems, and so on.

Bryanna

Originally Posted by woodyfly

Long story short, this upper tooth had a root canal that was infected. I got a root canal retreat about 3 weeks ago. I will be going to a dentist next week to get my fillings. However from what I understand, root canals don't completely get rid of the infection? I'm considering extracting it because I think it's affecting my sinuses.

I am attaching two sets of photos. The pano is taken before any retreats or extractions

The second picture are taken AFTER he did the "most" of the root canal (he cleaned out the tooth or whatever but didn't finish putting in the material)

I posted my pano a while back and you said that my bottom left tooth had an infection and possible fracture. You were right. In that case, doing a root canal would have done nothing. I almost did a root canal on that bottom tooth. I feel like perhaps this is possibly the same case for my upper tooth? That that root canal retreat is gonna do nothing and it would be better to extract it?

Just by looking at the xrays, do you think an extraction or root canal is better for my upper right?

[woodyfly]

Originally Posted by Bryanna

Woodfly,

Thanks for posting all of the xrays.

Both root canaled teeth are infected because the dentin tubules contain infected necrotic nerve tissue. In addition to that fact, they both show pathology on the radio graphs.

The lower left molar has a large area of bacterial pathology around the mesial (front) root. The root of the upper right premolar is either in close proximity or directly into the sinus. The sinus, is blocking the view of the pathology around the apex of the tooth. It is also blocking the health of the molar behind this tooth.

If you look at the panorex and compare the posterior area of your upper right with your upper left, you will see the sinus hovering over and around your premolar and molar areas on both sides. Your upper right sinus area is considerably darker more radiolucent looking compared to your left. When this radio graphic finding is seen in an area where there is a root canaled or infected tooth, it generally indicates proliferation of bacteria and inflammation from that root canaled or infected tooth.

The pressure from that bacteria and inflammation could cause headaches, sinus pressure or infection, eye, ear, gland problems, and so on.

Bryanna

Do you have idea if that pressure shows up on an MRI?

[woodyfly]

Originally Posted by Femlex

Hi woodyfly and thank you for the explanations!

Your symptoms are fairly similar to my case, except that my RC tooth is not showing any conclusive infection on the xrays. Mine is an upper front tooth. I have zero pain in the tooth (never had any, just like yourself), but (on good days) my main problem seem to be concentrated under my right nostril (which coincides with the root tip of this tooth). Coincidence? I very much doubt it. No "bumps" on the gums that I can feel or see, but there is a feeling that the internal soft tissue is much harder than other tissue. On bad days, I feel heat and other symptoms in the eye, ear, tonsil, throat, down the neck, sometimes even all the way along the shoulder to the tip of the arm. All on that (right) side only.

One thing is that this tooth has always had problems, even while they were cleaning it. I have another thread which explains lots of details - all about this case. I am waiting to see my dentist, but his waiting list is long.

The xrays did show some darkening of the root but we weren't sure exactly what it could have been.
I can see on your panoramic view you posted later that there is a dark area under one of the roots of your lower-jaw molar RC-ed tooth. Is that the tooth and the darkening you are talking about?

Also, being a lower jaw tooth, did you have any problem with the extraction? Did your dentist scrape all the infected area and if yes, how long it took? Was it your general dentist or an oral surgeon who did the extraction?

How are you feeling now? Are you in any pain? Are you taking any antibiotics?

Take care!!

The darkening of the area is the infection. Most dentists concluded it was an infection, I almost went with a root canal which would have been a huge mistake. When we took it out that thing was fractured and the root looked like a mess.

No problems with the extraction. He scraped the area relatively quick, about a min or two, he said the infection didn't go too deep. It was an oral surgeon and I paid $300 cash. Definitely have an oral surgeon do it, they specialize in pulling tooth. My oral surgeon said he's been doing it for 40 years and had pulled thousands of tooth. The entire process took like no more than 10 minutes.

After pulling the tooth, he prescribed me some painkillers but I didn't take them. Just had a gauze in it for a day to stop the bleeding and rinse it with salt the following days. The area around my extraction site is still a bit sore if I touch it with my tongue.

Few positive things I noticed is that my anxiety has definitely gone down. I used to be in a fight or flight mode at all times, I couldn't control it, it was always activated. I guess it makes sense, there was a big abscess and my body was fighting it constantly for over 10 years!

My jaw feels relaxed on the left side now. Before I had trouble opening my mouth fully, the left side of my jaw would feel very strained and it would tremble from the effort of trying to open it.

Originally Posted by Femlex

but (on good days) my main problem seem to be concentrated under my right nostril (which coincides with the root tip of this tooth). Coincidence? I very much doubt it. No "bumps" on the gums that I can feel or see, but there is a feeling that the internal soft tissue is much harder than other tissue. On bad days, I feel heat and other symptoms in the eye, ear, tonsil, throat, down the neck, sometimes even all the way along the shoulder to the tip of the arm. All on that (right) side only.
!

I can't relate to those symptoms or the heat (my head does get hot sometimes but not in any specific area) except that my problems are majorly on the right as well. I feel pressure, it feels like a headache but in my face. My right eye get droopy and puffy. I feel it around my eyes, between my eyes, on the right side of my nostril, on my temples and just generally all around the right side of my head but lately ive been feeling it on my left temples as well which maybe makes me think its a tension headache. I ultimately can't tell if it's a tension headache or sinus. There are many signs that points to either one.

I've been suffering from chronic pain for over a decade and at this point I'm ready to take all kinds of risks. Money is an issue for me right now but as soon as I can, I'll have it pulled and report here.

[Bryanna]

Woodfly,

Pressure does not show up on any radio graph or scan.

If you are going to have additional diagnostic tests, then a dental 3D scan instead of an MRI would be best.

Bryanna

Originally Posted by woodyfly

Do you have idea if that pressure shows up on an MRI?