Root canal x 2 and apicectomy and lip swelled

[zeezee22]

Hi

I have had repeat root canal on a front tooth and then an apicectomy on the tooth. My question is why is my top lip still slightly swollen 5 weeks after apicectomy? Does this mean my tooth is still infected? I have had 2 separate weeks worth of Metronidazole, once after the repeat root canal and once after the apicectomy. An endodontist did the rooth canal and a Specialist Oral Surgeon did the apicectomy, both very experienced so have no doubt that the work was done well. The lip is slightly swollen at the margin between the red part and the normal skin and do not know why this should be. Can anyone offer explanation. Does this mean I need to extract the tooth? Could I be allergic to the root filling?

 

[Deck2015]

Any number of things could be happening, and you may be worrying for nothing, too. Recommend contacting the last provider who performed the Apico for a follow up visit.

Incidentally, I swear there are some of you on this forum reading my dental chart notes I had RCT on #8 over 30 years ago due to injury. Re-infected about 10 years after RCT, Apico was performed then. Potentially re-infected recently, I debated re-doing the Apico (and of course had Endo's willing to repeat the apico for a hefty cost) but my Dentist and a respected Endo that I've come to trust both said it's a waste of money to repeat the Apico again...I ended up with extraction and there was STILL no clear sign of infection or crack after the tooth was extracted. (I have a nerve disorder that complicates any dental pain/procedure so it was unsure if my pain was tooth related or not). I was told that Apico's work for some people but it's really a "heroic last effort" to save the tooth, and repeat Apico's have something like a 20-40% success rate, at best.. <<None of this implies that you will lose your tooth -- we are all different and sometimes, patients have success with repeat procedures on a single tooth. Also, you may just be healing slowly -- how does the tooth feel when you eat with it?? Is it sensitive to percussion, temperatures?

*I'm not a Dental/Medical Professional*

 

[zeezee22]

Any number of things could be happening, and you may be worrying for nothing, too. Recommend contacting the last provider who performed the Apico for a follow up visit.

Incidentally, I swear there are some of you on this forum reading my dental chart notes I had RCT on #8 over 30 years ago due to injury. Re-infected about 10 years after RCT, Apico was performed then. Potentially re-infected recently, I debated re-doing the Apico (and of course had Endo's willing to repeat the apico for a hefty cost) but my Dentist and a respected Endo that I've come to trust both said it's a waste of money to repeat the Apico again...I ended up with extraction and there was STILL no clear sign of infection or crack after the tooth was extracted. (I have a nerve disorder that complicates any dental pain/procedure so it was unsure if my pain was tooth related or not). I was told that Apico's work for some people but it's really a "heroic last effort" to save the tooth, and repeat Apico's have something like a 20-40% success rate, at best.. <<None of this implies that you will lose your tooth -- we are all different and sometimes, patients have success with repeat procedures on a single tooth. Also, you may just be healing slowly -- how does the tooth feel when you eat with it?? Is it sensitive to percussion, temperatures?

*I'm not a Dental/Medical Professional*

Thank you so much for your reply. It seems I am not alone in going through this repeat root canal/apicectomy and still no nearer to finding out what the problem is. You may be right and I am healing slowly. I remember when I had the original root I remember counting the weeks as it seemed to be taking ages to settle, when everyone was telling me it should only be a matter of a few days. This was some 10+ years ago and it took me around 13 weeks to recover and feel normal again around the tooth. The nerve had been throbbing constantly, but when the nerve was taken out the dentist told me it looked normal, but it eventually settled after about 3 months and had not much more problem with it apart from the odd infection which was cleared with a course of antibiotics, but was a small price to pay keeping it Ok for more than 10 years. The re-root canal was probably getting a little better after 3 months, so that is when I had the apicectomy. So maybe if I give this 3 months and see if it starts to settle then, I will get a better idea. I am older now and things take longer to heal I suppose. It is just unnerving to see if everything is really settling or if I need to take more action. With it being the front tooth, it is such a big decision.

It is not sensitive to temperature and it just feels uncomfortable, but I suppose this is from the supporting structures, rather than the tooth.

Thanks for your reply, as even some sharing and support makes you feel better when you are going through all of this.