I had a tooth root canalled just over a year ago. In January this year I developed a fistula on the gum above the canalled tooth. My dentist removed the tooth at the beginning of January. I wasn't given any antibiotics and now two months later the pus filled lump keeps returning on my gum above the socket. I've been back to my dentist 2 times and both times she has said it's fine the pus has somewhere to go. How long before this lump stops developing?

Hi Jules,

The recurring fistula is not okay. The fistula indicates that the infection is still present. Chances are the dentist either left a piece of the tooth or some debris in the bone or she didn't remove the fistula (tract of infection). It is best to consult with an oral surgeon to evaluate this infection and get it taken care of before it travels to the adjacent teeth. You would need to obtain the pre and any post op xray of that area of your mouth. The oral surgeon will also take an a new xray to see if there is a piece of tooth still in the area and also use it as a comparison to the previous xrays.

Please let us know how things go.
Bryanna

I'm in the UK and we don't have oral surgeons we can go to. I'm relying on the nhs and my dentist is all I have. I really don't know what else to do. Every time I go back I just get told it's healing fine. She never cleaned the fistula out at all just removed the tooth and said the lumps would stop when all the pus had drained. I'm a very nervous patient and I'm petrified of loosing more teeth. I really don't know where else to turn.

Jules,

If I'm not mistaken there are oral surgeons in the UK. They may be in private practice, but I'm pretty sure you have them. Perhaps you can google oral surgeons and find one that way?

Bryanna

Quick update after several more trips to dentist and gp with severe pain got called in today to see the clinical lead. The fistula is from my sinus cavity and have a bad infection which my dentist had left untreated. Now have antibiotics and the strong possibility of surgery. At least I'm on the road now.

Jules,

It is highly likely that this sinus infection is related to the original tooth infection, which means it has been brewing for a long time, and the dentist who extracted the tooth did not perform a thorough surgical debridement of the area.

FYI... this type of infection is commonly associated with upper root canaled teeth. The main problem is that the infection and the fistula needs to be surgically removed .... by an oral surgeon..... as the antibiotics are generally not enough to eradicate it. An example would be.... having a splinter embedded in your hand that has caused an infection. Until that splinter is removed, the infection will remain irrelevant of how many antibiotics you take.

I still urge you to consult with an oral surgeon for proper evaluation and treatment.

Bryanna