Final question! Is this normal..

[Lottie_11]

This will be my final question! The dentists on this forum have been so kind in answering my questions so I feel a bit cheeky asking yet another but this will be the final one, just hoping to clarify is this is normal or not. I had a root canal, it's now been filled, the dentist took x rays and spent a short while checking for infection (I was very anxious about remaining infection) and said there definately isn't any. However I still have a pimple on the gum. I asked about this and the dentist said it's fine as there's no puss. But surely the pimple is an indicator of infection? I've posted a pic, please can someone tell me if this is indeed harmless of if it does indicate remaining infection? Hopefully if it IS ok, I can begin to relax and be glad it's over now! Thanks very much for reading and in advance for replies.

 

[mango]

I had a root canal, started roughly a year ago, and have just had a cap put on. I still have a pimple - my tooth was x-rayed before the cap was made to check for infection and none was found. So I presume the pimples must be a little like scar material.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

It might be. Difficult to tell just from a picture.

A puss does not have to be all the time supporative. If puss comes out, you should notice the bad taste of it.

 

[comfortdentist]

Hard to tell. If pus comes out even a little you've a problem.

 

[Lottie_11]

Hard to tell. If pus comes out even a little you've a problem.

I'd assumed there was still infection due to the pimple when I went back to the dentist...I'd had the first part of the RTC seven days before. There was infection there then. I was not given antibiotics. The dentist said to wait till the infection had gone...she wasn't expecting it to have gone when I went back seven days later but said it was. I was quite insistent about there not being any infection so the dentist did 3 x rays, put like a needle thing into the gum which came out clear. So I agreed to the filling. Should I go back to the dentist about this? If there is still infection will I need a repeat root canal or an extraction?

Also, since I had the filling in the tooth that needed a root canal my front teeth have become quite sensitive and my gums hurt when I floss...is this likely to be linked to the RTC?

Thank you

 

[Dr. Daniel]

First of all, just to be certain, was there a second appointment for finishing the RCT?
Assuming that there is still an infection on that tooth, there are many options for treating it besides extraction and repeating the RCT, like apicoetemy or root amputation. It depends on the situation.

 

[Lottie_11]

First of all, just to be certain, was there a second appointment for finishing the RCT?
Assuming that there is still an infection on that tooth, there are many options for treating it besides extraction and repeating the RCT, like apicoetemy or root amputation. It depends on the situation.

Hi Dr Daniel, thanks for your reply, yes there was a second appointment. I'll explain the whole thing....in February 2012 I had pain in a molar that already had a filling in. I went to the dentist (reluctantly as I HATE the dentist ) and the dentist said I'd need a root canal. I paid for the root canal, but then the tooth stopped hurting, so I didn't go back to the dentist. I hated the thought of the RCT so I ignored it. In August 2012 I got a small lump on the gum above the tooth. I'm a student and I had a really important exam the following week, I was also on placement in an acute medical admissions facility and was highly stressed. I assumed the lump would be due to stress but I went to the dentist to make sure. I had no pain, was apyrexial etc so I did not think it would be due to infection. The dentist said I had an infection so prescribed some antibiotics then said to return to start the root canal.

When I went back the gum boil was still there and there was still infection there. The dentist drilled through the filling, took out the nerve then put a temporary filling in and told me to wait until the infection cleared. She said that as the infection had been there for months it would take a while to clear. I wanted more antibiotics but she was reluctant to prescribe any. I was convinced that I'd end up with endocarditis or something so she said to go back in seven days and she's give me some antibiotics if it was not draining well. Then the week after if the infection had gone I'd have the filling, then wait a while, if there was no pain then have the tooth capped.

When I went for my second appointment she said there was no sign of infection, so she could fill the tooth straight away, but I was concerned as the gum boil was still there, so she took 3 X rays and said there was definately no infection, then cleaned out the tooth, then filled it. She said if there was still pain the tooth would have to come out.

I'm due to go back in six months to have the tooth capped. But now I'm left wondering if there is still infection in the now sealed tooth. There's the gum pimple still there. There's no pain, but then again, there never was, even when the infection was there I had no pain. So I'm just really unsure. Then on top I'm really worried because it took so long to go to the dentist in the first place because of being scared....in the end I only went cos I convinved myself it could end up fatal I even almost ended up defferring my exam as I was so convinced something bad would happen.

Sorry this post has been so long and thank you again for your help it is very much appreciated.

 

[Gordon]

We really can't help further without seeing some x-rays, it would be worthwhile going to a different dentist for a second opinion.

 

[Lottie_11]

We really can't help further without seeing some x-rays, it would be worthwhile going to a different dentist for a second opinion.

I think I'll have to do this, I'm just really disappointed I'm gonna have to go through this whole process again, and I thought I'd found a good dentist but it seems perhaps not . The pimple is going down now, and is no longer white but gum coloured, my vitals are all normal (normal for my resting rate, which is usually always the same, when I have even a cold etc it will rise as will my BP but all are normal) so I am tempted to just leave it alone, rather than face yet another dentist. I found this on one random site:

'Within a few days after a root canal, you may find a small “bubble” or “pimple” on the gum tissue. This happens because of the release of pressure and bacteria which no longer can be sustained around the tooth and should disappear within a few days.'

​

The dentist stuck a series of like long white needle things into my gum/tooth and pulled it out clear to prove there was no infection...is that the 'right' thing to do? I also had no analgesia before during or after the procedure, should I have been offered some (I had no pain but I read it should be routinely offered?). The X rays were unremarkable according to my dentist..... I did see the X rays but had no clue what I was looking at, I've only ever looked for air on x rays for e.g pneumothorax so didn't have a clue what to even look for....would infection show up on the X ray? Sorry for being dumb

Finally if I was to leave it, for a little while at least, what will happen...what could happen? Should I just dose up on benzo's and see another dentist? What are the chances leaving it will develop into something serious?


Thank you so much once again in advance to anyone kind and patient enough to answer my endless stream of questions!

 

[carole]

You managed to get yourself there and face this once, I think if I were you I would get another dentist and that second opinion, if you leave things who knows what can happen. Why temp fate and wait for another emergency, at the worst you will get the tooth treated properly and may need other treatment, and at best you need nothing done but find yourself a dentist you can trust.

Good luck

 

[Dr. Daniel]

'Within a few days after a root canal, you may find a small “bubble” or “pimple” on the gum tissue. This happens because of the release of pressure and bacteria which no longer can be sustained around the tooth and should disappear within a few days.'

This is simply not true. I don't know who wrote this but this is an example of unreliable information you can find in the internet.

Regarding your dentist, I would advise you to stay with your dentist. The most important thing for you is to have one person who is resposible for your dental health. Let's assume the worst case scenario: that the RCT did not go well, and your dentist has a wrong diagnose, and indeed there is puss coming out of the tooth. The puss will not go away and the dentist will have to re-check his/her diagnose and maybe send to a specialist (endodontist). Even in this extreme scenario there is no real chance that the infection will spread in your whole body because it has found a way out.

Let me again emphasis, I don't know what is the situation, I am just describing the worst case scenario.