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My strange and unusual dental journey (root canal, wisdom tooth, filling and more)

I called yesterday and made an appointment to see my "new" dentist about the aching teeth on the left side. I got an appointment for next week. Then today, the office called me and said to ust make an appointment at the endodontist instead, given my history, since it sounds like it is a nerve issue.

So I called and they are going to evaluate the teeth before my apico next week.
 
I had my apicoectomy and it wasn't as bad as I thought. After the last one on the molar, I knew what to expect, and the endodontist told me it would be easier.

The abscess left a huge hole...the endodontist called it "impressively large". The cone beam scan (which she showed me) showed that the infection had actually eaten away at the bone not just above the tooth, but had tunneled back as well. That part didn't show up on the x ray. The endodontist said she typically prefers to use x rays rather than the cone beam, but that she was glad she took the cone beam or that would have beem missed. She scraped infection out of there. She said that the abscess must have been growing for over a year, possibly two. That is spooky that I had no symptoms.

It is done, though, and she said the procedure went perfectly. I am praying that it worked. I had a lot of discomfort and pain after the numbing wore off, but I can't take ibuprofen, so it was just tylenol and a tramadol. The second day, the pain was completely manageable with tylenol and one tramadol at night. The swelling is worse today, on the 3rd day, and discomfort is worse but manageable with tylenol. If I could take ibuprofen, there would probably be no pain. It hurts to brush my teeth, though.

The endo checked my bottom first molar that has been hurting, and says the pulp is vital. I had a "oh no!" moment when she was holding the endo ice to it, and I felt nothing for almost 20 seconds. I think I actually said "uh oh", then I barely felt the cold. She said that was fine, though, as long as I felt it. She did a test for cracks and thinks the tooth has a cusp fracture, and can be fixed with a new filling and crown. I am not so sure, as a new filling and crown is what started this whole mess with my upper molar. We shall see.

So that is my next step...call the dentist and see about getting a new filling. I think i will see if he will do that first and see how the tooth reacts before prepping for a crown.
 
Five days post apicoectomy and the diacomfort is worse today. The pain that I had behind my nose is back, and there is a lot of pain in the gums around the tooth, and in the tooth next to the root canaled tooth. It is extremely difficult to speak and eat today, as moving my top lip pushes against the tooth. Yesterday I felt good, and was speaking almost normally, so this is worrisome. I can barely touch the tooth to clean it. I can't run a toothbrush over it at all, so mostly using a cotton swab dipped in the chlorhexidine mouthwash the endodontist gave me.

I have no idea if this is normal. The tech at the endodontist office said the tenderness of the tooth is normal, but to call back if the other discomfort is still there next week.

How do people go back to work the following day?
 
I am 8 days post apicoectomy. I am trying not to worry about how slow I am healing. I still have difficulty talking without being uncomfortable, and if I talk more than a few minutes, it hurts...not badly, but a dull ache.
The surgical site is still numb. It feels very odd. That whole area has been numb since the surgery, but has gradually become less numb.
 
At two weeks post apico, I still had numbness and quite a bit of pain. I went back in. Endo said the exterior was healing nicely, but there could either be lingering infection or swelling inside. The problem is the two have treatments that are counter productive. Steroids for swelling could hide an infection. So he gave me another round of antibiotics to see if that helped.

So fast forward to three weeks post apico. I am finally starting to feel improvement. The area isn't as sore. I can actually touch my nose again without pain, although I cannot blow my nose yet. The tooth doesn't have the pulsing pain above it anymore. I finished the antibiotics yesterday. Right now, I stilk have a weird pressure feeling in the root area when I talk. I cannot use a straw or use my upper lip when eating. That causes a weird sensation that feels almost like my tooth is being pushed out by the root. There is a place right behind the tooth that has pressure and a painful feeling, almost like it is swollen, but there is no visible swelling. The surgical site is still numb, in an area about 2 inches by 1 inch, which is a pretty big area. It is very unusual, apparently. I am starting to get used to it, though. I just have to be careful when eating or brushing because I could hurt it and not know.
I know the next week will tell, because if the pain comes back, then the apico failed. Every time I took antibiotics before the apico, the tooth felt better. I am hoping it continues to feel better and doesn't relapse back. I really need at least one success.
 
At two weeks post apico, I still had numbness and quite a bit of pain. I went back in. Endo said the exterior was healing nicely, but there could either be lingering infection or swelling inside. The problem is the two have treatments that are counter productive. Steroids for swelling could hide an infection. So he gave me another round of antibiotics to see if that helped.

So fast forward to three weeks post apico. I am finally starting to feel improvement. The area isn't as sore. I can actually touch my nose again without pain, although I cannot blow my nose yet. The tooth doesn't have the pulsing pain above it anymore. I finished the antibiotics yesterday. Right now, I stilk have a weird pressure feeling in the root area when I talk. I cannot use a straw or use my upper lip when eating. That causes a weird sensation that feels almost like my tooth is being pushed out by the root. There is a place right behind the tooth that has pressure and a painful feeling, almost like it is swollen, but there is no visible swelling. The surgical site is still numb, in an area about 2 inches by 1 inch, which is a pretty big area. It is very unusual, apparently. I am starting to get used to it, though. I just have to be careful when eating or brushing because I could hurt it and not know.
I know the next week will tell, because if the pain comes back, then the apico failed. Every time I took antibiotics before the apico, the tooth felt better. I am hoping it continues to feel better and doesn't relapse back. I really need at least one success.
Sorry your still having a tough time ?. Hang in there and try and keep positive thoughts. ?
 
I am getting pretty discouraged again. After all the work, and pain, and still having numbness, 3 days after I finished the antibiotics, the front tooth is painful tp the touch again. The antibiotics had made that go away, so I guess the infection is still there. I just cannot catch a break. I am going to lose all my teeth before this is over
 
I am getting pretty discouraged again. After all the work, and pain, and still having numbness, 3 days after I finished the antibiotics, the front tooth is painful tp the touch again. The antibiotics had made that go away, so I guess the infection is still there. I just cannot catch a break. I am going to lose all my teeth before this is over
Oh no ? Maybe you need a stronger antibiotic? Or a different one?
 
Oh no ? Maybe you need a stronger antibiotic? Or a different one?

I can't even remember how many rounds of antibiotics I have been on now. Because of the sheer amount of them, I am at risk for c.diff, so I have to be careful and not take strong antibiotics.
 
I spoke to my endodontist today. The pain is not normal at this point and she said to give it another week then she would refer me to the oral surgeon. I really don't want another failure and extraction, especially my front tooth!
 
I got my implant for the lower 2nd molar put in on Tuesday. It was much more painful than I expected, but I couldn't take ibuprofen or heavy painkillers. I took tylenol and tramadol. It is now Saturday and I am feeling much better...just a little sore and making it on just tylenol. The swelling is going down, and I have bruising on my jaw.
 
I went back to the dentist today to get the OTC night guard adjusted. He also ground a little off my front tooth, as it was still hitting the tooth under it a little. That hurt, which surprised me, because it had seemed to be settling down. The dentist admitted it wasn't a good sign. I think I need to prepare myself that after the root canal and apico, I am going to lose yet another tooth.
 
Man, this is getting long! I haven't updated in awhile. The clindamycin that the endodontist prescribed seems to have helped, but I am still waiting to find out for sure. My front tooth is not nearly as pressure sensitive, but still has pain behind the tooth, so who knows. The pain right below my nose has come back, and it feels weird when I move my lips certain ways. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
 
I got the lower right first molar crowned today. I am anxiously waiting to see if it "takes", and the nerve doesn't get inflamed. I am scheduled to get the lower left first molar crowned in a month, but I keep waffling on it, since it isn't really hurting when I chew, although I am only chewing soft foods like pasta.

Gah! All this waiting is driving me bonkers!

I go back to the endodontist next week, to check on the front tooth. It doesn't hurt nearly as much as before, but there is some pain when pressed at the root area.

I saw an ENT specialist this week, to make sure the infection hasn't gone into my sinuses, since I have been having constant sinus pain since the root canal was originally done. He looked at my x rays and said it is the trigeminal nerve causing all the pain, and that the abscess caused a cyst that was sitting on the nerve. Since the x ray he looked at was from 3 weeks ago, before the Clindamycin, he couldn't say for certain if it was still there. He did say that he was surprised that I wasn't sent to the oral surgeon to get it manually scraped out, which is what I thought the apico was for. He said it was a different procedure and that due to the size of the abscess, he would have gone straight to the surgeon. Hmmm...that didn't make me feel good. We will say what the endo says next week.
 
Thanks for the update! I hope your crown will end up being a non-issue. You (and your nerves!) deserve a break. Good luck with your endodontist next week. Are you going to ask about the cyst and oral surgeon route? I’m hoping you have continued healing and more pain-free days ahead.
 
Thanks for the update! I hope your crown will end up being a non-issue. You (and your nerves!) deserve a break. Good luck with your endodontist next week. Are you going to ask about the cyst and oral surgeon route? I’m hoping you have continued healing and more pain-free days ahead.

Thank you! I do plan on asking the endodontist about the cyst and oral surgeon route, although to be honest I think I would rather lose the tooth than go through another surgery.
 
I haven't updated in a while. I had the crown prep on my right lower first molar. Fine for the first two days, and on the third day it started hurting in my jaw and under the tooth. I called the dentist and he said to try to tough it out until the permanent crown was placed, as that would most likely solve things. I had a pretty bad feeling about it and called back in a few days when the pain got worse. They said to call the endodontist and have her check it.
Endodontist tapped and no pain. She applied endo ice and youch! She took it right off and the pain lessened and was more of an awareness of the tooth. I could feel sensations in the tooth but a mild ache. She said it needed a root canal.

I opted for another extraction, and got it done today, along with bone grafting. Freaking out a little, as the dentist does not sew a membrane over the top of bone grafting like the oral surgeon does.
 
Oh and I canceled all crown appointments for thw lower left first molar. Not going through that again.
 
I am doing a quick update. The extraction is healing nicely. I went to the oral surgeon last week for an implant consult. He said he may have to do more bone grafting later, since some of the bone grafting done at the dentist's office came out. Maybe not, but it is a strong possibility. More expenses...

I have the implant surgery scheduled for September.
 
I still can’t believe they didn’t stitch closed that bone graft at the dentist office sad I may have to do yet another one. Glad though things are going well ?
 
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