Root infection returned. Going on a vacation :(

[erkanm]

Hi there

I had a root canal done 6-8 months ago. Now it started hurting again. NOT too much though. It’s like if someone’s yanking my jaw once in a while.

My dentist gave me antibiotics I can use on a 3 week vacation in Japan, if something goes wrong.

My question is, my dentist said there’s no need to do anything if its not too painful. She said I can get an appointment when I return. I leave next week and will be back august 31st.

I CAN however have them cut a little hole in my gum and have them remove the infection and sew it up. But I’m afraid its going to hurt even more while om vacation, if I do that. The infection is deep down in the roots and my dentist can’t fix it. So I will need to visit a special dentist.

Will antibiotics be enough, if it starts swelling up? I will also take some ibuprofen with me.

Thanks

 

[Gordon]

You need a crystal ball to answer that one, sorry!

 

[erkanm]

You need a crystal ball to answer that one, sorry!

How long does it usually take for the root tip infection to really get going? Right now its just an itchy feeling once in a while. Does it develop over days, weeks or months?

The dentist tried poking it but no pain. She also tried blowing cold air, again no pain.

But the root tip infection is definitely there (visible on X-ray) and I will need surgery at some point.

 

[MountainMama]

My root canal failed. I had it done in early June. I am going in for an apicoectomy on August 15, as the root tips seem to be the issue. I was told the recovery is about 3 to 5 days, with day 3 having the worst swelling.
I have had minor pain off and on, but no throbbing or anything more than pressure sensitivity or mild aching. I am not on antibiotics as I had 3 rounds of amoxicillin before and directly after the root canal.

Just wanted to share my experience since I have had the infection for over a month now. I am taking ibuprofen daily to control inflammation and help with the pain.

Before I had the root canal, I was given antibiotics in case of pain, since I couldn't get in for 3 weeks. When it started hurting, I took the antibiotics, which helped tremendously by day 4. I did not have an abscess, though.

 

[erkanm]

My root canal failed. I had it done in early June. I am going in for an apicoectomy on August 15, as the root tips seem to be the issue. I was told the recovery is about 3 to 5 days, with day 3 having the worst swelling.
I have had minor pain off and on, but no throbbing or anything more than pressure sensitivity or mild aching. I am not on antibiotics as I had 3 rounds of amoxicillin before and directly after the root canal.

Just wanted to share my experience since I have had the infection for over a month now. I am taking ibuprofen daily to control inflammation and help with the pain.

Before I had the root canal, I was given antibiotics in case of pain, since I couldn't get in for 3 weeks. When it started hurting, I took the antibiotics, which helped tremendously by day 4. I did not have an abscess, though.

Thanks for replying! So after Day 4 did the infection return? I’m afraid when I finish my antibiotics the pain will return

I will also do the apicoectomy when I return. I just need to hold on for 1 month. I really hope the antibiotics will keep the pain away for a month. Mind you its not hurting just yet, but I can feel its coming.

 

[MountainMama]

Thanks for replying! So after Day 4 did the infection return? I’m afraid when I finish my antibiotics the pain will return

I will also do the apicoectomy when I return. I just need to hold on for 1 month. I really hope the antibiotics will keep the pain away for a month. Mind you its not hurting just yet, but I can feel its coming.

The first 3 days of the antibiotics I still had pain but it was better. I had a 10 day course. On day 4, the pain was completely gone. After the antibiotics were done, I had a little pain about 4 days after, but controlled with ibuprofen easily. I haven't taken any antibiitics since one week after the root canal, and I only have minor pain now, controlled with ibuprofen. I was terrified of the pain coming back, too, but so far it has been tolerable. If I were you, I would go ahead and take the ibuprofen, just to control the inflammation, before you start getting pain, just one every 6 hours or so. Do you have prescription ibuprofen or just over the counter? The prescription stuff works better, as both from my experience and from the word of my endodontist and doctor. Apparently it is time release. I got a prescription for 600 mg. You can safely take up to 3200 mg a day, and alternate with tylenol in between. You might ask for a prescription.

It is nerve wracking to be waiting for a procedure and not know if the pain is going to come back.

 

[erkanm]

Do you know how long it takes for abcess to develop? I don’t have one at the moment, my jawbone just feels weird and I get a sting once in a while. Does an abcess develop over a long period of time?

I have not started the antibiotics yet. I’m trying Olive Leaf Extract, I heard it can help infection, but I don’t know.

 

[MountainMama]

From what I understand, every abscess can be different. You would notice swelling, though, and redness around the gums.

 

[saralou35]

Mine didn’t abcess when it died even after 4 months!! But when she drilled into tooth it was necrotic! So I think the tooth can hold it for months or years after it’s died!

 

[TeaMatcha]

I totally understand how you feel about having a not settled tooth and having vacation ahead.. because me too. I heading to Taiwan in a about a week time and I'm so worried about my root canal tooth flaring up during the trip. My root canal tooth was done 5 months ago. It was fine for about 3 months before it started to feel "weird". It was throbbing on some days during August. The gum feel tender when pressing or brushing in some angle too. It's just a weird feeling. It was finally settled after about a week of feeling weird. I went to took an x-ray at another clinic on 2nd Oct, the dentist told me that there seems to be small infection however it looks better compared to better root canal x-ray, therefore I didn't show the x-ray to my dentist (who is also my Ortho).

I did mentioned about the tooth to my dentist during braces adjustment though, and she say that it might be due to braces movement causing some stress to the root canal tooth (I know is weird cos braces are suppose to ache not throb sigh). Perhaps, are you having braces or did you clench your tooth when you're asleep or stress? As I heard it might be the reason too.

Hopefully, your tooth won't act up during the trip!!!

And, I hope that all of us who are having issues with root canal tooth will settled soon.....

 

[MountainMama]

Do you know how long it takes for abcess to develop? I don’t have one at the moment, my jawbone just feels weird and I get a sting once in a while. Does an abcess develop over a long period of time?

I have not started the antibiotics yet. I’m trying Olive Leaf Extract, I heard it can help infection, but I don’t know.

How did everything turn out? Did you go on your vacation?