Root Canal- infection- extraction - when will it end???
 

I had a root canal performed on tooth # 5, ten years ago. Two years after the root canal treatment I noticed a pimple-like bump on the outer gums above the same tooth. I never had pain, just the drainage spot which came and went for months at a time over the years. About 1 year ago I decided to look into having the issue fixed because I developed a hard bump on the roof of my mouth near the tooth. I had 4 opinions, *ranging from "retreat" to "there is nothing wrong." I then saw an endodontist who recomended I have a deep cleaning in the area and take 2 weeks of Amoxocilin to see if the infection clears. Needless to say it didn't work so I immediately saw a Periodontist who cut my gums open and really cleaned the infection (1/3 of the hard bump was removed) , stitched me up and sent me home with 2 more weeks of Amoxicillin. 2 weeks or so later I had the stitches removed and still had the pimple and also the hard bump.


I waited a few months, received a few more opinions and decided to pull the tooth. 3 weeks ago I started antibiotics for a sinus infecion likely related to the tooth infection (i was told by dentist and surgeon.) *2 weeks ago, the Dental Surgeon removed the tooth and said it looked really infected but only seemed to rinse the opening where the tooth was for maybe 10 seconds. *I had assumed he would cut my gums and clean for 40 minutes like the Periodontist had but nope. *That was it. I said I was breastfeeding and had amoxicilin from the sinus infection and was told to just continue that. They didnt ask how many days of meds I had left but I had around 7. Also, *They said there was no follow up. *If something seemed wrong I was to see my regular dentist.*


1 week later (also 1 week ago.) I had a consult with an Endodontist for the tooth next to the "problematic tooth" #4. He said I was healing fine and tooth#4 needed a root canal treatment and it was safe to perform even tho the infection in #5, was still possibly present. He then completed the root canal. Since I am breastfeeding he said to just finish my last 3 days with the amoxicillin from the sinus infection (I heard him prescribing Clyndamicin to everyone else. ).*


Now the week has past and I feel the hard bump on the roof of my mouth getting bigger since I stopped taking the amoxocilin. I don't know who to see, what procedure to ask for or how long to wait to really check if the infection goes away. *

*

I would like to get pregnant which is why I am trying to positively know when the infection clears. *


Any help is much appreciated! ! Sorry for the long history of my issue. *

civic,

Tooth #4 most likely became infected from tooth #5. So there is no way to be assured that this will not keep happening one tooth after another. I have seen this occur many hundreds of times in 30+ years of dentistry. Your dentist should have informed you of that fact before he did the root canal on #4.

I would suggest that you not get pregnant until you are sure that you have no oral infections as infection can put you in a high risk category for miscarriage, etc. Every root canaled tooth is infected because there is no way to remove the infected nerve tissue from the hundreds of tiny canals. So tooth #4 is infected and the rc will not alter that fact. You also have a chronic infection that most likely stems from tooth #5 and as you can see, all of the dental procedures that you have been put through has not cleared the problem. Why? Because they were done while #5 was present and it was that tooth that was keeping the infection brewing.

Now you have the added burden of the bone graft and dental implant that was obviously placed in diseased bone which only added to the original infection and your sinus has become involved from this infection as well.

Are you currently breast feeding? Please take a probiotic supplement to restore healthy bacteria in your intestines. A good one is called Culturelle and can be bought at a drugstore or supermarket. Also, you should give your child the children's version of Culturelle as the antibiotic has disrupted their intestinal bacteria as well. It is wise to stay on the probiotic indefinitely because it will take months to build up good bacteria and then it is important to maintain an ample supply in your gut.

You need to see a different oral surgeon if the one that you saw for #5 did not thoroughly debride that area when he removed that tooth. Never be shy to say to the oral surgeon.... make sure you are thorough in debriding the area of diseased tissue and bone. I know it sounds stupid to have to tell your oral surgeon to do that... but it is better for him to know that you are well informed and holding him accountable for doing a thorough job.

Bryanna