I wanted to give an update and ask some further questions about my situation...
I have had an issue with a tooth for some time now and this week I went to the Dentist for his opinion and full X-Ray.
The X-Ray shows "halos" around the root of the suspected tooth and there appears to be a "halo" forming on the root of the tooth behind the suspect one. The Dentist said the "halo" is an infection and I have an abscess. The Dentist basically said this was bad news and that I am faced with either an extraction or a root canal. The Dentist prescribed me with penicillin to fight the infection, so I am on to this now. This week the pain in the tooth ramped up and I have woken up with it hurting (lying down seems to make it worse).
For a good while, the tooth was extremely sensitive to cold and hurt real bad when I drank. The tooth also hurt to chew on for a good while. Strange thing is that the sensitivity has gotten somewhat less and to a point where I can live with it. It also does not hurt as much to chew on at the moment. The sensitivity is still there and this should be a sign that the root is alive and kicking still. I was hoping these were positive signs, but the Dentist was rather pessimistic and said I am likely going to lose that tooth and the one behind. When I spoke to the Dentist this week, I asked about teeth healing naturally. He seemed open to it, but had not seen any clear evidence. The Dentist mentioned that there is new research and trials going on all the time. The Dentist also mentioned that Ozone treatment appears to be showing good results. My current Dentist is moving on in the next week or so and as I reflect, I am somewhat disappointed that he was not more proactive. With the tooth behind the problem tooth, he said he can see there is something going on and there needs to be some investigation, but he just left it at that. I am taking my x-rays to a new Dentist next week for a second opinion. Fingers crossed, but I am finding that Dentists are all saying the same thing and are not very open to alternate options differing from the main stream ones. Here are a couple of comments from two separate Dentists;
There is a fair number of issues you have raised. Firstly, let me say the fact that you had extreme pain to temperature and pressure is often a false dawn and often means the tooth is in fact 'dying' and could ultimately lead to an abscess if goes untreated.
It would be difficult to give you an idea of possible outcomes without seeing the xray(s). However, the use of ozone has made out comes even more successful than without.
More importantly, the recent advance in the use of lasers in root canal therapy has made mass in roads to teeth that were previously considered unsavable.T he process is known as Photon induced Photoacoustic stimulation or simple PIPS. I am accredited in this process and am using the Fotona Lightwalker twin laser system.
The following articles may give you some insight as to the process
http://www.oralhealthgroup.com/feat...ur-outcomes-using-laser-activated-irrigation/
And....
Thank you for the x-rays. The larger panoramic view certainly does show changes around the roots (halo effect) that is indicative of a loss of nerve vitality and the potential development of an abscess. Viewing the x-ray, coupled with your description of the symptoms I would say it is highly likely that you would need to decide on whether to embark on root canal treatment. Of course if I were assessing you I would need to perform some sensory tests to support this diagnosis.
The other x-ray shows the placement of a white filling in this tooth that is very close to the nerve pulp and has likely come into contact with a thin nerve extension in the tooth called a pulp horn. Such an exposure can cause the nerve to die after treatment. This can happen a long time after the initial filling was placed.
I can understand your frustration but you can be unlucky where the placement of a filling, no matter how carefully done, can result in this sort of outcome. As soon as this tooth comes into the mouth at around 6 years of age this sort of problem has the potential to develop if a cavity or weakness forms.
It is not an indication that the rest of your teeth will succumb in a similar fashion. Although there are a couple of other fillings hopefully the nerves in those teeth remain happy and vital.
At the end of the day I am wanting to go into this and face the situation with eyes wide open. I will go with the best option put before me, so I would be very interested to hear people's thoughts based on what I have shared. My preference is for the tooth infection to heal naturally and avoid an extraction and root canal at all cost. But... I will do what I have to do...
Thanks!
I have had an issue with a tooth for some time now and this week I went to the Dentist for his opinion and full X-Ray.
The X-Ray shows "halos" around the root of the suspected tooth and there appears to be a "halo" forming on the root of the tooth behind the suspect one. The Dentist said the "halo" is an infection and I have an abscess. The Dentist basically said this was bad news and that I am faced with either an extraction or a root canal. The Dentist prescribed me with penicillin to fight the infection, so I am on to this now. This week the pain in the tooth ramped up and I have woken up with it hurting (lying down seems to make it worse).
For a good while, the tooth was extremely sensitive to cold and hurt real bad when I drank. The tooth also hurt to chew on for a good while. Strange thing is that the sensitivity has gotten somewhat less and to a point where I can live with it. It also does not hurt as much to chew on at the moment. The sensitivity is still there and this should be a sign that the root is alive and kicking still. I was hoping these were positive signs, but the Dentist was rather pessimistic and said I am likely going to lose that tooth and the one behind. When I spoke to the Dentist this week, I asked about teeth healing naturally. He seemed open to it, but had not seen any clear evidence. The Dentist mentioned that there is new research and trials going on all the time. The Dentist also mentioned that Ozone treatment appears to be showing good results. My current Dentist is moving on in the next week or so and as I reflect, I am somewhat disappointed that he was not more proactive. With the tooth behind the problem tooth, he said he can see there is something going on and there needs to be some investigation, but he just left it at that. I am taking my x-rays to a new Dentist next week for a second opinion. Fingers crossed, but I am finding that Dentists are all saying the same thing and are not very open to alternate options differing from the main stream ones. Here are a couple of comments from two separate Dentists;
There is a fair number of issues you have raised. Firstly, let me say the fact that you had extreme pain to temperature and pressure is often a false dawn and often means the tooth is in fact 'dying' and could ultimately lead to an abscess if goes untreated.
It would be difficult to give you an idea of possible outcomes without seeing the xray(s). However, the use of ozone has made out comes even more successful than without.
More importantly, the recent advance in the use of lasers in root canal therapy has made mass in roads to teeth that were previously considered unsavable.T he process is known as Photon induced Photoacoustic stimulation or simple PIPS. I am accredited in this process and am using the Fotona Lightwalker twin laser system.
The following articles may give you some insight as to the process
http://www.oralhealthgroup.com/feat...ur-outcomes-using-laser-activated-irrigation/
And....
Thank you for the x-rays. The larger panoramic view certainly does show changes around the roots (halo effect) that is indicative of a loss of nerve vitality and the potential development of an abscess. Viewing the x-ray, coupled with your description of the symptoms I would say it is highly likely that you would need to decide on whether to embark on root canal treatment. Of course if I were assessing you I would need to perform some sensory tests to support this diagnosis.
The other x-ray shows the placement of a white filling in this tooth that is very close to the nerve pulp and has likely come into contact with a thin nerve extension in the tooth called a pulp horn. Such an exposure can cause the nerve to die after treatment. This can happen a long time after the initial filling was placed.
I can understand your frustration but you can be unlucky where the placement of a filling, no matter how carefully done, can result in this sort of outcome. As soon as this tooth comes into the mouth at around 6 years of age this sort of problem has the potential to develop if a cavity or weakness forms.
It is not an indication that the rest of your teeth will succumb in a similar fashion. Although there are a couple of other fillings hopefully the nerves in those teeth remain happy and vital.
At the end of the day I am wanting to go into this and face the situation with eyes wide open. I will go with the best option put before me, so I would be very interested to hear people's thoughts based on what I have shared. My preference is for the tooth infection to heal naturally and avoid an extraction and root canal at all cost. But... I will do what I have to do...
Thanks!
