Possible infection under root canal treatment. What to do?
 

Hi, this is my first post on this website. I have previously looked though the forums and wanted some specific advice for my own situation so sorry if it is a repeat of a previous thread, I haven't had time to read them all.

Approx 4 years ago I had a crack in a filling in my bottom right 5th tooth. The dentist removed the filling then proceeded to inform me I needed a root canal filling and crown. I tried this using local anaesthetic at the dentist but was unable to bear the pain - the anaesthetic did not take after several attempts. Long story short I am now terrified of the dentist and now have sedation for everything except check ups.

I had the root canal treatment completed and a crown placed via sedation.

Approx 2 and 1/2 years ago the crown post snapped and I had it removed and a semi permanent filling placed on top. Due to me needing sedation it took about 7months for my referral to go through. By this point I had developed an infection in the gum/tooth which was causing a lot of pain. I got rid of the infection eventually after a couple doses of antibiotics.

My dentist refused to do another crown for me after seeing the infection and told me to have it removed. I changed dentist and they have referred my for sedation again. I got asked if I have had any more infections since the first one. At the time I had not and I am due to have the crown re-dun in 5 weeks time.

The semi permanent filling on my tooth has completely worn down, and I have pain on the gums around my tooth. Additionally, there is a small raised bump on the lower part of my gum. Is it okay for me to get another crown done or do I have to have it removed. If it is removed what can be done? Because I don't want a gap in my teeth.

Any comments appreciated, Thanks.

Hi cjwilko,

The bump on the gum is called a fistula. This occurs when a tooth has been infected for a long time and the bacteria has spread from the tooth into the bone. The fistula is similar to a pimple that forms on your skin except the infection is not just at the gum, it is in the tooth and the jaw bone. The antibiotics that you took did not cure the infection, they just temporarily subsided the inflammation and symptoms. The fistula is clear evidence of that.

It is understandable to not want to lose your tooth. But unfortunately the only means of getting rid of the infection is to remove the source of the infection which is the tooth. Crowning this tooth will not have any favorable outcome because the infection is brewing deep inside of the tooth in places that cannot be cleaned out.

It would behoove you to talk to your dentist about replacement options so that when the tooth is removed you will be able to proceed with replacing it.

I know you are scared, but you will be okay. The oral surgeon can give you a little sedation to remove the tooth and you will be fine.

Please let us know how you're doing........

Thanks for the advice, I have booked an appointment with my dentist to discuss options.

If the infection has spread to my jaw bone can it still be cured by removing the tooth and taking antibiotics?

I've had a similar issue and a course of amoxicillan worked for me and I saved myself from tons of dental work....I have a broken molar, filling fell out and I can't bear the thought of losing all this dental work...so I use Myrrh tincture on that molar area, two times per day or so, rinse with H202 daily and some times add drops of diluted DMSO drops on that molar.....so far so good and keeping away from dentists as best I can.

I keep amoxicillian in the refrig for just in case. When I had a hip replacement we had to use amoxicillan for dental appts so now I have a nice supply, they have long shelf lives as I've asked a pharmacist....plus it's an inexpensive abx.

Hi cjwilko,

If the infection has spread to the jaw bone, then the first important step is to remove the source of the infection which is the tooth. The second important step is done at the same time as the extraction and that is the removal of the periodontal ligament and any diseased tissue and bone. To leave the ligament and disease in the jaw, means to keep the infection. Due to the vascularity of the mouth and jaw bone the bacteria that resides in the mouth and the jaw bone also resides in the blood stream.

So to answer your question, the extraction of the tooth along with a thorough debridement of the bone is crucial in eradicating the infection. Antibiotics would be prescribed to reduce inflammation and attack any microscopic remnants of bacteria. If the infection has been present in the bone for a long period of time, and this time frame differs from one person to another as does the health of their immune system, then it can be difficult to eradicate the infection completely. So it is imperative to respectfully but assertively request that the oral surgeon perform a very thorough extraction and bone debridement.

For informational purposes.... to keep the tooth means to keep the infection because the source of the infection is the tooth. An example would be a splinter of wood deeply embedded in your finger. You can apply all sorts of topical salves and medicament's to that area and none of them will the reach the splinter. You can ingest all sorts of antibiotics and therapeutic herbs and supplements, none of them will have curable benefits simply because the source of the infection, the splinter, is still present.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

Dear Bryanna,

I have an unusual but tragic case. I have been suffering for nine months straight form non-bacterial prostatitis and which has no migrated to my bladder. It feels like I have an infection moving around my entire urinary system. On a 1-10 pain level, I am a 10 around the clock.

All this happened two weeks after I had dental work performed. A teeth cleaning and some cavities filled. The dentist however, asked me if my root canal was bothering me. I replied no. He said that I had a low grade infection on tooth #21.

Since I didn't feel pain, I thought not much about it. All my urine tests show negative and I don't have cancer, but something in my heart tells me that my ills could be from the low grade infected root canal although I don't fell any pain on that tooth at all.

I went to an oral surgeon last week and refused to pull it, although he did see a very tiny infection at the base of the root.

I'm in so much agony, I want this tooth removed. Have you ever heard of anybody with bladder pain getting a root canal removed and had some kind of recovery?

Thank you.

bradW--Have you ever been tested to see if you had interstitial cystitis?

I had what felt like recurrent UTIs for a long time but never any infection found on culture. Finally I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis which was a relief to finally know what was wrong. There is a low acid/low bladder irritant diet which can be hugely helpful. http://www.ic-network.com/patient-re...-introduction/

I don't have any advice on the root canal related to bladder issue, but I just wanted to let you know about IC if you hadn't already found out about it.

However I don't know why the OS refused to pull it. If it is infected and the patient wants it out, it's not for him to refuse! Can you see an new OS?

I had the same situation. I allowed the infection to spread and I had pus filled fistulas all around the root. The infection spread through the tissue and came out on my face.

For over a year it filled with blood and fluid and I felt horrible. I had a fever constantly. I eventually had it out. The infection affected half of my face for another year eventhough I took antibiotics. It destroyed some of my jawbone. :(

Have it out. :hug:

What kind of OS is he?? :eek: