Can a dental implant or root canaled tooth cause all of these symptoms?
 

I have multiple neurological symptoms (hearing loss, horrible tinnitus, burning, tingling, and bug crawling sensations in face, jaw, skull and other parts of my body) and we don't know whether the cause is Lyme disease or something else. I was treated with a lot of antibiotics for a year and I thought my body had enough. Since that time, over the last 2 years, I have been taking herbal antimicrobials and many nutritional supplements. My symptoms have been gradually worsening, unfortunately.

I have a dental implant that is on the same side as my hearing loss and my symptoms seem to originate and be most pronounced from this area. I have a retention cyst directly above this implant and wonder if that is a clue. So does my dentist. I have had cat scans, x-rays, and the 3 oral surgeons I have visited all think it is not the problem.

I am awaiting results of MELISA testing to see if I might have an allergy to titanium or any of the metals in my implant. It will be difficult to find an oral surgeon willing to remove my implant if this could be the cause of my illness. But I will do whatever it takes to feel better and get my old body back!

Also, I have one remaining root canaled tooth in my mouth on the 'good side'. It is not bothering me, but from everything I have read here (and other sites) it is toxic and should be removed. I asked my oral surgeon to extract it and he is hesitant as it is not causing me any symptoms on that side.

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Experiencing similar symptoms
 

Hi there. I am brand new to this site. I've been doing a lot of internet research since I am experiencing similar symptoms. Started having hearing loss in my left ear in January of this year. Originally I thought it was allergy/sinus related, which my primary care physician ruled out. Referred me to ENT who did hearing test, ABR (auditory brainstem response test) and VNG (videonystagmography). ENT says I have significant vestibular weakness and referred me to ear specialist who has ordered an MRI and another hearing test (ECoG). I believe the MRI is to help rule out an acoustic neuroma. Currently my symptoms include: significant hearing loss in my left ear, constant noise (wind/whirring/humming) in my ear, a constant feeling of fullness/pressure in the ear and left side of my head, tingling and burning (numbness) in my scalp and cheek that comes and goes, "light-headedness" and headaches and left eye-aches that feel sinus-related. I HAVE HAD UNEXPLAINED TOOTH PAIN THAT SHOOTS UP MY LIP, THE LEFT SIDE OF MY NOSE AND INTO MY HEAD for at least a few years. I am only now considering that it might be related to a root canal in one of my top front left teeth. I believe the root canal was done maybe 15+ years ago. My current dentist had not found any cause for the dental pain, but he is unaware of my hearing loss and other symptoms. It is important to note that I have suffered a few episodes of vertigo - one in 2008 and one last summer 2013 which the doctor diagnosed as labyrinthitus. My current ear doctor is waiting for additional test results but is leaning toward a diagnosis of a combination of Migraines and Meniere's disease. I am curious to see what he thinks about the possibility of a connection to the root canal. I would have this tooth removed in an instant if I knew for sure it is causing my health problems.

Hi Dorabo,
There is an uncanny similarity to our symptoms. I wish we could find a common denominator. I also had many of the tests you describe. A lesion was found with my MRI, but subsequent MRI's revealed the same lesion, so the doctors thought it was a 'venous malformation' that I was born with - and unrelated to my hearing loss or other symptoms. I also was found to have lost about 50% of my vestibular functioning on the same side as my hearing loss with caloric testing and an ECoG test. I had a few episodes of vertigo prior to my hearing loss and just one episode after.

My ENT diagnosed me with 'atypical Meniere's Disease', which means it is secondary to another illness. In my case, we thought it was Lyme disease. And it very well could be. Have you been tested for this? Unfortunately, the testing is very poor and there are many false negatives. Another symptom that I developed after the hearing loss was the sensation of vibrations in my head and extremities. This is very typical of Lyme disease that has invaded the nervous system.

With all this, I still can't help but think there is some connection to my dental implant with the cyst above it. Perhaps I will never know. I do have a root canal on the opposite side and lower jaw. I am contemplating getting this removed, but so far there are no problems with this tooth. My oral surgeon does not recommend this because he says I could develop dry socket or complications from the surgery.

Please keep me posted on how you are doing and if you have any news or discoveries on what is behind your symptoms. Thanks for sharing your story!

dbpei,
I have not been tested for Lyme disease. With the increasing tooth pain & numbness - the way it radiates through my upper lip, the left side of my nose and into my left eye and ear, and increasing headaches, I am suspecting the root canal more and more. I have begun researching biological dentists in my area. Still have to rule out acoustic neuroma. I emailed my ear doctor and am waiting to see his thoughts on the possible connection to infection from the root canal.
Thanks for your response. I will definitely be checking back with any new info.

dorabo,
It is good that you are listening to your instincts on this and pursuing different possibilities. I will look forward to hearing how things go. Good luck with the MRI too. It is important to rule out acoustic neuroma.

Dental Pain & Hearing Loss???
 

Hi dbpei,
I realized after reviewing my dental records that my old root canal is on my top right, MY "good side". My hearing loss and all other symptoms are on the left, which is where my dental pain is coming from. I thought it was important to note this, since you said the same thing. I am still not ruling out a connection between either the root canal (even though it causes me no pain) or the dental pain coming from the left.

I agree, it is I important to see competent doctors, get all the appropriate testing, but also to trust your instincts. Did these symptoms happen or worsen right after dental work? There is a form of neuralgia that greatly influences the ear ....not sure about hearing. I have lots of ear pain after some inappropriate dental work. (Doesn't mean all horrible outcomes are the result of inappropriate dental work, but i have no doubt mine was). My dx is Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia. I have seen many many others on websites I've gone to with nerve pain after dental work, in particular, who mention ear pain. But the hearing loss....this I'm not sure about. Something to look into though....

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/001636.htm


Wishing you relief soon. Sounds very very difficult.