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Abscess in decade old root canal. Freaking!

jellospore

jellospore

Junior member
Joined
Mar 21, 2019
Messages
1
Location
New York
Hello all, thanks for taking the time to read. Maybe someone can ease my fear of what's going on.
So about a year ago I noticed a small bump on my gum above a crown I had gotten about 10-12 years ago. It didn't hurt so I ignored it, plus I did not have dental insurance at the time, so my options were pretty limited. Now I have the benefits and I went the dentist recently and it appears I have an abscess/infection in said root canal area.

When I went in for an eval, the dentist wanted to start me on a round of antibiotics first to see if it would clear up the infection. He said doing it wouldn't be re-treatable by performing another root canal because its too close to my sinus'. So the only options are to 1.) Antibiotic treatment or 2.) Extraction. So right now I'm on clindamycin 300mg three times a day for a week and I'm on day 3 but i'm just still so nervous because i've been reading that antibiotics aren't necessarily effective against root canal infections. Is this true? I feel like i've had this long enough, i just want it gone, haha. So any advice? thank you.

edit: attached picture
 

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Did you get this from a dentist or endodontist? Maybe a specialist would give a good second opinion?
 
I second the suggestion to get another opinion from an endodontist regarding the re-treatment.
 
Hi jellospore,

glad to read you have benefits now and can get dental care. Going for a second opinion might be the best idea.
In general, antibiotics are there only to ease the symptoms of an acute infection as swelling and pain in order to win some time and manage the situation before the actual treatment. The tooth itself will still need some sort of after that.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you to find a dentist who can save the tooth for you.

All the best wishes and keep us posted
 
So sorry to hear about the infection. I am not a dentist, but recently had an abscessed tooth that ended in a root canal and apicoectomy. That did not clear up the infection, so I was put on clindamycin. What I understand is that the antibiotics can clear up infection outside of the tooth. My endodontist said my root canal looked good, so she thought the infection was in the gums. I was also told that if the infection came back, I would have no choice but extraction. It is my front top tooth, so I really don't want to go that route unless absolutely necessary.

I would also suggest seeing an endodontist if you haven't already. Clindamycin may kill the infection from the abscess, but if the tooth has infection in it, then it will come back.
 
Hi,

I recommend a second opinion, preferably from an endodontist.
Antibiotics can lessen the infection but not deal with the source of the infection.
 
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