• Dental Phobia Support

    Welcome! This is an online support group for anyone who is very afraid of dentistry or who suffers with dental phobia. Please note that this is NOT a dental problems forum! You can find a list of them here.

    Register now to access all the features of the forum.

Apico recovery question

P

Pearly77

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
49
Location
Virginia
Hello! I had a root canal on tooth 12 the beginning of February. Apparently the tooth had a tiny old filling that leaked. No infection but tooth was dying. Following root canal I had extreme pain. RC was redone in March, pain continued. On Friday the Endodontist performed an Apicoectomy. There was small infectioN which was causing swelling in my gums above the tooth root.

I am healing well. Main source of ache is in my chipmunk cheeks. Gums are tender but feel good.

my question is, is it normal for the Apico tooth to feel different right now? Even a bit tender? I thought that if the tooth had no root it would no longer feel sensation.

Just sitting here worrying about this poor tooth and hoping someone has some thoughts on this.
Thank you!
 
Last edited:
Gordon

Gordon

Administrator
Staff member
Verified dentist
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
8,119
Yes, it's completely normal, if you think about it, there's basically a hole in the jaw bone that your body will need to fill in, so there's lots of rebuilding work going on. Lots of inflammation, lots of bone cells busy making new bone and remodelling the old stuff, as well as dealing with any residual infection from the abscess.
 
P

Pearly77

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
49
Location
Virginia
Oh, goodness. Thank you, Gordon! I thought the tooth would just feel completely dead but it makes sense that it still needs time to recover. I just need to leave it be and stop pressing on it.

thank you, friend. I could just cry with relief. This tooth has put me through the ringer — emotionally and physically (and financially!) these past few months.
Thank you!
 
M

MountainMama

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 1, 2018
Messages
2,549
When I had an apico, it was months before the area felt normal again. It was one of the hardest recoveries from dental work that I have experienced. Like Gordon said, lots of bone and tissue to regrow. I had a patch of numb gums for a long time as well, and the endodontist said it was because tiny nerves had been cut, and that it could take up to 6 months to heal completely.
 
P

Pearly77

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
49
Location
Virginia
Thank you so much! It’s so reassuring to hear that this is all normal. I’m so worried about this poor little tooth so this is such a relief. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if these things just miraculously were better the next day?

thank you!
 
Gordon

Gordon

Administrator
Staff member
Verified dentist
Joined
Oct 25, 2005
Messages
8,119
You're very welcome, I hope things continue to improve for you.
 
Top