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Why....does a tooth that's had an RTC have an abscess.....extraction only option?

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Lottie_11

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Feb 1, 2012
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Why....does a tooth that's had an RTC have an abscess.....extraction only option?

I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can help me with:

I had pain over a tooth with a large filling in, six months ago, that went onto become an abcess. I had an RTC...firstly I refused as I was so scared, so I was told that I'd need to be referred to somewhere else to have the tooth extracted. That took a while, but when my appointment came through I had been on this forum and felt brave enough to go for the RTC. So I had the RTC and dentist said wait for six months and then if there's no issues I'll have a crown.

Precisely six months later the abscess is back. No pain, as last time, just swelling of the gums and a grosse little white dot thing. My questions are:

Why is the abscess back, after the root canal? Should I have it extracted and be done or is there any other option, bearing in mind that I am TERRIFIED of the dentist so lengthy procedures and multiple appointments are not really an option for me.

If I have to wait for an extraction, should I be on prophylactic antibiotics? Gordon very kindly replied to a post saying that complications from an abscess are rare and don't occur in healthy people in the west. However I have seen people critically ill following complications from dental procedures. I have seen a failed ETT extubation leading to trachy insertion and failure to wean from that, and all the complications that ensue from being intubated, so taking a short course of prophylactic abx seems a small sacrifice to make?

If the abscess is chronic was the rtc never successful in the first place? If I have to wait ages for the extraction is it safe to just sit on an infection? Will re-treatment mean surgery or can I repeat the RTC and hope for the best?

What are the chances of the abscess spreading/eating the bone/getting out into my blood stream etc.

Last question - why me? I am hoping a dentist can help me with this. I am meticulous in my dental hygiene. I floss twice daily, I use an electric toothbrush twice daily, I use fluoride mouthwash, I clean my tongue, I eat healthily, I drink things through a straw to avoid my teeth. I get my teeth whitened when I visit family in the US. Whenever I see the dentist I'm told the teeth are very clean so I don't need a clean/scale and polish. SO why are my teeth so BAD? Abscess and cavity wise. I have only ever had one set of back teeth, since I was a child. I'm in my early 20's now and no sign of any new teeth. Yet although I'm not that old I have a filling in the back teeth, top back teeth, an abscess over one - why me? It just seems so unfair.

Hope someone can shed some light on this. Thanks for reading and in advance for any replies any help much appreciated x
 
Re: Why....does a tooth that's had an RTC have an abscess.....extraction only option?

I had a rct on a tooth that was infected and had to wait 6 months to see if the tooth would settle before crowning it.

I can only tell you about my experience, I suffered an abscess for nearly 2 years, before I could get it treated. It didn't spread or get into my blood stream, or anywhere else.

Once that tooth was given a rct it has been fine.

I got an infection on a different tooth at the opposite side to the first infected tooth, it was a different infection and no relation to the first.
I had a rct on that one too, that was a year ago, the tooth didn't settle and got infected again. I waited until February of this year to see someone to do a rct re-do. The infection was still in there but didn't spread, it made my gum sore sometimes but I was fine.

I have now had two appointments of the re-do and they are a bit longer than usual but they are doable, I am extremely nervous of anything dental but I am managing to have this done. I did not want to lose the tooth and I have a lovely dentist at the hospital that is doing it, as it should be done by a specialist not a general dentist when having a rct re done.

If you decide to have the tooth out you will be fine waiting until you get an appointment, nothing will happen to you because of the infection.

I would see your dentist and discuss your options for this tooth and between you decide what is the best course of treatment to take.

Best wishes to you :grouphug:
 
Re: Why....does a tooth that's had an RTC have an abscess.....extraction only option?

I had a rct on a tooth that was infected and had to wait 6 months to see if the tooth would settle before crowning it.

I can only tell you about my experience, I suffered an abscess for nearly 2 years, before I could get it treated. It didn't spread or get into my blood stream, or anywhere else.

Once that tooth was given a rct it has been fine.

I got an infection on a different tooth at the opposite side to the first infected tooth, it was a different infection and no relation to the first.
I had a rct on that one too, that was a year ago, the tooth didn't settle and got infected again. I waited until February of this year to see someone to do a rct re-do. The infection was still in there but didn't spread, it made my gum sore sometimes but I was fine.

I have now had two appointments of the re-do and they are a bit longer than usual but they are doable, I am extremely nervous of anything dental but I am managing to have this done. I did not want to lose the tooth and I have a lovely dentist at the hospital that is doing it, as it should be done by a specialist not a general dentist when having a rct re done.

If you decide to have the tooth out you will be fine waiting until you get an appointment, nothing will happen to you because of the infection.

I would see your dentist and discuss your options for this tooth and between you decide what is the best course of treatment to take.

Best wishes to you :grouphug:

hi Carole how did you manage to get them to do the rest root at the hospital?? It seems like these days it’s a private Endodontist at £600-£800 ?
 
Re: Why....does a tooth that's had an RTC have an abscess.....extraction only option?

I am very fearful of dental procedures, too, and have had a lot in the past few months. I have a failed root canal, but no abscess. The endodontist told me that the only other option to save my tooth is an apicoectomy. That is where they go in through the gums, and remove the tips of the roots on the infected tooth, and put a filling in to keep infection from occurring again. It isn't a guarantee, obviously, and I could still lose my tooth. I want to try everything I can, though.

As far as the dental health, I am the same as you. I have always had good dental hygeine, brushing 3x a day, and flossing daily. I have always had the dentists tell me I have good oral hygeine and my teeth are very clean. My dentists have told me part of it is genetic. My paternal grandma had trouble with her teeth, so apparently I take after her. No one else in my family has even had a root canal done!
 
Re: Why....does a tooth that's had an RTC have an abscess.....extraction only option?

I am very fearful of dental procedures, too, and have had a lot in the past few months. I have a failed root canal, but no abscess. The endodontist told me that the only other option to save my tooth is an apicoectomy. That is where they go in through the gums, and remove the tips of the roots on the infected tooth, and put a filling in to keep infection from occurring again. It isn't a guarantee, obviously, and I could still lose my tooth. I want to try everything I can, though.

As far as the dental health, I am the same as you. I have always had good dental hygeine, brushing 3x a day, and flossing daily. I have always had the dentists tell me I have good oral hygeine and my teeth are very clean. My dentists have told me part of it is genetic. My paternal grandma had trouble with her teeth, so apparently I take after her. No one else in my family has even had a root canal done!


I too have always looked after my teeth and always had 4 yearly cleanings etc! I think my probs stemmed from an overly eager dentist in the 80s filling my molars with metal for tiny cavities! They when it needed changing boomp it died! Also I think luck comes into it! I think some of us are very sensitive to dental procedures ?
 
Re: Why....does a tooth that's had an RTC have an abscess.....extraction only option?

hi Carole how did you manage to get them to do the rest root at the hospital?? It seems like these days it’s a private Endodontist at £600-£800 ?

I am in the same position. I have an abscess in my upper right molar (wasn't told originally that is what it was!) I have already had a RCT on it and its been crowned. The tooth was crowned with the lump in my gum. I told my dentist a tender lump had appeared but he wanted to crown in regardless. I am now being told that i will need to see a Endodontist for around £600 for a re-do RCT. That or have it extracted. I am not in pain and i chew on the tooth as normal. I only know its there because of the lump in my gum. I've had this lump for about 9 months. Terrified of dentist but even more terrified of losing the tooth.
 
Re: Why....does a tooth that's had an RTC have an abscess.....extraction only option?

I am in the same position. I have an abscess in my upper right molar (wasn't told originally that is what it was!) I have already had a RCT on it and its been crowned. The tooth was crowned with the lump in my gum. I told my dentist a tender lump had appeared but he wanted to crown in regardless. I am now being told that i will need to see a Endodontist for around £600 for a re-do RCT. That or have it extracted. I am not in pain and i chew on the tooth as normal. I only know its there because of the lump in my gum. I've had this lump for about 9 months. Terrified of dentist but even more terrified of losing the tooth.


Very similar to mei had an old root canalled tooth crowned! It was just filled for 8years but hasn’t been right really! Dentist crowned it a month ago and been in pain since! Adjustments and antibiotics have helped and I can eat on it! But have weird pain in face/cheek that I remember having before when it died! Trouble with mine is not showing as infected on X-ray so dentists don’t really know what to do? I’m see an Endodontist for a consultation but he’s £800 which is a lot to pay when it might not even be infected? I just want to turn the clock back and not get the crown! I wished she’d just refilled it! But she said it needed a crown ??? I had a feeling it would all go wrong! Now I’m petrified to ever have anything else done to any other teeth!
 
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