I had my "eye" tooth extracted last week and the root of the tooth was so long that it went up into the sinus cavity. This left a hole in the gum that goes straight up into the sinuses. When I was brushing my teeth and rinsing the water actually got into the hole and came out my nose! My question is should my dentist some how closed up the hole and is this dangerous to have a hole open going to your sinuses? He did put me on antibiotics to prevent a sinus infection. I was also wandering how long does it normally take for a hole like this to heal and close up?

Hi michelle,

It's definitely wise to see an oral surgeon to have this site evaluated. It is not good to have an opening of that size from your mouth into your sinuses. The fact that the water came out of your nose while rinsing may indicate that the "communication" to the sinus is wide open.

Please keep us posted on how you are doing :-)

Bryanna

I had an old root canal RE infect, and since I didnt feel any sx, it went on for a long time. When discovered they found it had eaten a hole into the floor of my sinus cavity. I guess I was lucky, in that a strong course of antibiotics after the apicoectomy (they sawed off the root of the tooth that was touching the sinus, and leaking infected material) I was just fine. I had that root canal done originally at one of those fancy pants places that was more like a spa. I was told that all was well. The surgeon who removed the root of the tooth, told me i have VERY long roots on my teeth, and its common to miss that top tip on long roots. He fixed it, and I havent had a problem since. My sinus healed after getting all that material out, and no more weird sinus sx.

Hang in there. I hope yours resolves as nicely after repair.