JamesSmith,

About 6 years ago when I was working overseas in Australia, I had another major filling/restoration done on tooth #26 (number 14 in US numbering system) because of pressure/sensitivity in that area. Didn't realize it at the time, but there was already a major infection in/above this tooth/area that had been there for a very long time. About 6 months after this filling and return to the US, I had worsening and major systemic symptoms/health issues and wasn't quite sure what was going on because I didn't have "pain" directly associated with this tooth. I went to my family doctor (repeated referrals to ENT, Neurologists, etc.), general dentist, and then to two other oral surgeons with my concerns and was just prescribed augmentin, clindamycin, amoxicillin, ciproflaxin, etc. for over a year. I was always told everything was "OK". A root canal was never done on tooth #14 but instead eventually one was done on #19, the tooth directly below it because of the "referred" and increasing nerve pain and sensitivity from the tooth above it (#14). I honestly and "mistakenly" thought all along the problem was with #19. I went to an endodontist and he stated he didn't see any active infection or apparent problems with #19, but since I wanted to get rid of this jaw/nerve pain and sensitivity, I agreed to have the root canal done on this tooth anyway. Symptoms persisted and kept getting worse until finally getting a PA x-ray on tooth #14. There was a major infection/cyst above this tooth and an old root canal tooth #13. Problems with a root canal on #13 and undiagnosed abscess on tooth #14 had caused major destruction of my upper left jawbone in this area over at least 15-20 years. So I ended up having #13, #14, and #19 extracted. There most likely was never a problem with #19 (bottom left first molar) but still lost this tooth because of a failed root canal and "referred" nerve pain. (This subsequently also happened to me on an abscessed tooth #3 on the upper right and referral to #30 below). Finally with extraction of tooth #3, #13 and #14, two debridement surgeries, and removal of a retained root tip from #13 (last debridement in upper left jaw and root tip removal by a holistic dentist), I have been recovering and many of the chronic health issues I have been dealing with for years are finally resolving.