Is this normal after RCT ?

[Sd96]

Some years ago I had an abscess on a molar with a huge decay but I never went to the dentist and tartar eventually covered the tooth. While the bump was still there, there was no pus anymore.
I decided to get it sorted this year. After scaling, the abscess flared up so I called the dentist. I took antibiotics for 10 days and did the rct on Thursday.
Immediately after I was in horrible pain especially when biting. Paracetamol has helped a bit.
But today I woke up with the abscess (white dot) being back, juste like before taking antibiotics.
Is it normal for an abscess to flare up after rct or does it probably means it failed ?
I have an appointment on Wednesday with my dentist anyway. Can the abscess wait until then without antibiotics ?

 

[Gordon]

Sounds like the abscess has been chronic for a while, you do sometimes get a little bit of residual infection coming up after the RCT, so I wouldn't panic about this. Just leave it till you see your dentist on Wednesday.

 

[Sd96]

@Gordon thanks you for your reply. It drained this morning so it hurts less. I'll wait till Wednesday and hope for no bad news then !

 

[Gordon]

Good luck! I'm sure it'll be fine.

BTW your dentist isn't called Hans and works in Brussels by any chance? I only know 1 Belgian dentist and it would be amazing if it was him

 

[Sd96]

@Gordon pain and pus have not come back yet so fingers crossed

Oh no, I'm not from Brussels but that would have been funny

 

[Gordon]

Sounds very positive, post a wee update after you've seen your dentist tomorrow.

It would have been wild if it had been Hans

 

[Sd96]

@Gordon my dentist said there was nothing to worry about

 

[Sd96]

Hi @Gordon , sorry to bother. I actually have a question about that rct tooth. it was done on the 22th of January. I can't actually chew on it. Not that it hurts but something feels off. As if the thooth was not stable when chewing (I checked and it doesn't move for real) or as if I still feel a hole. Can the fact that it had a chronic abscess cause this ? Like the bone around the tooth needs to heal for it to be more secure ? I would also add that it has slightly improved since the begining.

 

[Gordon]

No bother, I'm here to answer questions

It's possible the bone is still healing, other alternative is that the final filling is a wee bit high in your bite and that's throwing things off a bit.

Give it a little more time if it's still improving but I'd also mention to your dentist next time you're in so they can double check the bite.

 

[Sd96]

The filling on the "tongue side" looks higher than the "cheek side" but it doesn't feel off when not chewing on food.

I'll definitely mention it to my dentist on my appointment in March if it doesn't get better.

Thanks for your reply @Gordon

 

[Sd96]

@Gordon after reading your comment about the filling being a bit high I took a good look at my tooth and I think you are right.

Do you think the part that I have circled in red on the attached pics could be the problem ?
That part doesn't touch my upper teeth so no problem when not chewing. But when there is food I think it puts too much pressure on that part that is a bit "protruding".

May I ask your opinion on that ? If that's the problem, will trimming the filling resolve it ?

 

[Gordon]

It could be, the only way to check is to use something called articulating paper, sort of like carbon paper, you would chew against that and that would mark out any excessively high areas for adjustment. The adjustment is very straightforward for the patient and absolutely doesn't hurt

A couple of tenths of a millimetre could be enough to provoke some symptoms.

 

[Sd96]

@Gordon Hi I hope you are doing well.
I have a question about that tooth. The initial pain eventually went away on its own by the end of February and I was pain free until 2 days ago. It now hurts again to chew on it. I had an extraction on the other side 1 month ago so I have been using that tooth more than usual. I also have a bit of tartar build up on it. Do you think there is something to worry about? Or maybe it's inflamed and I should just avoid chewing on it for some days and it should be fine ? Thanks

 

[Gordon]

You might have banged it a bit hard chewing something, so try to take it easy chewing on it for a day or two (that's long enough really), if it improves that's probably the issue and if it doesn't get onto your dentist about it.