I will try to be quick here- about 1 year ago (after I had twins), I went for a reg. cleaning and they noticed a cavity. I had the cavity filled and then a few weeks later I started to have some tightness in my tooth area. I went on antibiotics a few times because I kept thinking it was a sinus infection. Finally, I went back to the dentist and he decided I needed a root canal. I had the root canal done, a temp. crown was put on and then we made sure everything was fine before the perm. Crown was put on. About 3 weeks ago I had my teeth cleaned again and then a perm. Crown was placed (after x-rays at the endo to make sure everything was okay). Now I feel the pain again- it isn't in the actual tooth, more like a pressure on the right side! The right side of my face seems to get really tight when I sleep, I wake up and now I feel fine. The left side feels totally fine. It does not hurt when I chew on it, there is no sensitivity to cold or hot. Please don't tell me I need another root canal! How could this be? I did have the flu/cold about 2 weeks ago but I feel fine now- I don't feel any nasal congestion. When I bend down it seems to feel more funny then when I am sitting up. I completely trust my dentist and endo (my dad was a dentist but passed away 2 years ago and they were both great friends of his). However, I have more anxiety then most people I can't even imagine having to go back to the dentist. Any ideas on what could be going on?

I am sure Flossie our expert dental hygienist will chime in here. I worked for an endodontist a while back as an assistant so feel qualified to say that could be you just need the occlusion corrected again (you know how they do that, they put the carbon paper between your teeth and ask you to move top and bottom around) then they make some minor adjustments top and bottom with the drill. Teeth move around, they are not tight in the bone structure otherwise we would be losing more by just minor accidents. That's why I say, have it checked out, but don't anticipate another root canal; it really doesn't sound like that is the case. Our pernanent teeth are just so precious, we try to keep as many as possible, crowns or no crowns.

Ti ck

I do feel my bite is a little off- just feels like I am biting on that tooth first and nothing else. I also wonder if I am clenching/grinding my teeth in my sleep and that is also causing the pressure when I wake up. I am so anxious/nervous that I am probably making it worse. My mom did think I just need the fit adjusted (or something like that). But I am super crazy and anxious! I do know the dentist and endo are terrific- they would never want to do anything wrong with me. They were very close with my dad. I appreciate your ideas- I will call on Monday.

Definitely get your bite checked and adjusted if needed. If you feel that you are hitting the new crown first when you close your teeth together an adjustment should solve the problem. Have the adjustment done as soon as you can.

If you are clenching or grinding at night you might want to invest in a night guard.

A few years ago, my old filling and a piece of my tooth broke off. I ended up having a crown put on. Later, felt pain, went back to dentist. She said I needed a root canal and sent me to an endodontist. After root canal, I again felt pain, same tooth. Went back to endodontist for gum surgery. Months later, felt a little pain again and some swelling. Could not understand why something kept happening with same tooth! Also, occasionally, a pimple appears on gum by that tooth. It eventually drains and goes away and may come back again months later.

I did not want to go back to endo. My dentist says sometimes a tooth can keep having problems for some unknown reason. She said it was possible I had a tiny fracture that was not seen in x-rays. Currently there is no pain so we are not doing anything about it. I go to my dentist every year and she checks on it but we are not doing anything since I feel fine. I still occasionally get a pimple though on the gum, Weird.

Hi poppycorn, I am surprised your dentist doesn't know that occasionally the endodontist can go through the tooth wall into the bone. This has a name that escapes me at the moment, but that has to be corrected and can be done.

Let me do some reading and get back to you so you will know what you are talking about when you mention it next time.

You should not have that pimple on your gum at all.

Tick

poppycorn, I have done some checking regarding the pimple on your gum and your cracked tooth, which can occur below the gum line, at times on the bottom of the root. The infection that occurs from time to time below the gum line from the crack will come and go on a regular basis. But the good part is that the infection has a way out with the pimple appearing and the infection draining that way.

This can apparently occur forever, although I myself would not let that happen as infection below the gum line in the mouth can manifest itself in other parts of the body over time, and if a lot of infection occurs with no way to go, will sometimes result in heart disease.

If I were you, I would return to the endodontist and have him inspect that portion of your mouth again, explaining that you have been made aware of a crack in the tooth. He may be able to repair, he may tell you he can't do anything about it, short of extraction if it becomes a physical health issue and no longer just an oral one.

I leave it up to you.

Here is the website, lot of reading before you get to the portion of cracked teeth but it is a good website in that regard and very explanatory.

[url]www.endodovgan.com/Endoinfo_Cracked_Fractured[/url

If you can't access this link, this way, please go to Google and you will find it there. The very first website. Or, try cutting and pasting the url.

Tick

tickle,

Thanks for all the info. I really appreciate it. Because money is tight for me right now and I feel no pain, I will not go to the endo. Right away. I think I'll wait for another pimple to appear as I don't have one right now. When it does (if it does) I'll make an appt. Hopefully it never appears again. I'm in no rush as I feel okay but am a bit worried about the possibility of an infection spreading. Thanks again for your help.