Baton Rouge Dentist

Why Is My Tooth Still Infected After an Apicoectomy?

Posted on by .

African American woman wearing glassed and frowningMy tooth is still infected after an apicoectomy. I had a raging toothache and infection that required a same-day visit in early October. The dentist did an apicoectomy on a tooth that had a root canal 2 years ago. I had a checkup and x-ray two days ago. The bone is rebuilding, but a small pus sac on my gums shows an infection is lingering. My dentist gave me antibiotics to take for ten days. Is there anything else I can do to get rid of this infection? I

t’s going to be three months and counting with this. I’m waiting for it to clear before I get a new crown. I opted for a one-visit crown because I want to wrap this up and move on. Since I’ve had problems with this tooth, my dentist wants to wait before making the crown. I feel like making an emergency appointment with another dentist before I return to mine – if I return. I don’t know what to do. Thanks. Marianna from TN

Marianna

After your struggle with a tooth infection for almost two months, your concerns are understandable. We will share some information that may help you decide whether to wait for your dentist or to get a second opinion.

What Is an Apicoectomy?

  • Unlike root canal treatment that approaches the pulp chamber by drilling a small hole in the tooth, with an apicoectomy, a dentist or endodontist surgically accesses the tooth through the gums.
  • The surgery allows the dentist to access the root tip and remove infection or inflammation.
  • The dentist places a small filling to seal the root tip.
  • Stitches close the small incision.

How Will Antibiotics Help?

Root canal treatment, apicoectomy, and any other apical surgery will help the tooth heal, and the infection will eventually disappear. The dentist or endodontist needs to remove all the dead tissue inside the tooth and seal the end of the root well.

Antibiotics

Although antibiotics can speed up the healing process, removing the source of the infection determines if the treatment will succeed.

If the bone around your tooth is healing, your dentist likely removed the infection. Any residual infection will eventually disappear, and the antibiotics will speed up the healing process. It takes patience, but your tooth will heal, and you can get a dental crown.

Although you can get a second opinion from a dentist with root canal treatment experience, an emergency dental visit won’t give you the necessary information.

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

What’s Next If I Had a Root Canal Fail?

Posted on by .

Man frowning and holding the side of his face; for Baton Rouge emergency dentistry from Dr. Ryan Perry.What’s next if I had a root canal fail? A toothache that has been bothering me for the past two months got so bad last weekend that I saw a nearby dentist for a same-day appointment. I did not want to return to my previous dentist because I didn’t like the customer service at the practice, and the hygienist is quirky. The toothache was in an upper left first molar tooth that my dentist did a root canal on two years ago. The dentist I saw most recently said she would need to refer me to an endodontist for a procedure called an apico? I have been a little slack about going to the dentist, and I haven’t seen one since I quit my last dentist, so maybe I could have avoided this. What is this apico procedure, and do I really need it? Thanks. Malachi

Malachi,

It’s good that you made a same-day appointment with a dentist. If you have a lingering toothache, you need treatment. Whether you need an apicoectomy depends on the X-ray results. You can get a second opinion from another dentist or an endodontist (root canal specialist). If you have problems with a root canal tooth, you will probably still need to see an endodontist.

What Is an Apicoectomy?

An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure that accesses the tooth root through an opening in the gum tissue and bone. An endodontist will remove the inflamed or infected tissue and remove the root tip. The endodontist will fit the root with a special material and seal it. Stitches will close the area and help it heal. According to the American Association of Endodontics, your jawbone will heal around the tooth root in a few months.

Why Do You Need an Apicoectomy?

If a dentist or endodontist cannot access a tooth infection near the root tip by opening the crown, they will recommend an apicoectomy. Sometimes after root canal treatment, infection in the tooth’s canals in the tooth can remain, particularly in areas that are difficult to reach. Then, you may need a second root canal or an apicoectomy.

You can get a second opinion from another dentist or an endodontist, a specialist who can provide the most accurate diagnosis and precise treatment.

 

Baton Rouge family dentist Dr. Ryan Perry sponsors this post. Please read about how he strives to provide his patients with the best care possible.

Horrible toothache and headache, but my dentist sees no problem

Posted on by .

In January, my dentist did a root canal on an upper right molar tooth. The tooth felt better afterward but has not been symptom free. Two weeks ago, I felt a flare-up of pain that felt like it affected the tooth next to the root canal tooth, and I have a headache, too. I returned to my dentist on Monday, and she took x-rays. She says that both teeth look fine. She suggested that I see a neurologist. I do not think my dentist is investigating enough. Why a neurologist?  Thank you. Bryson from Arkansas

Bryson,

Although Dr. Perry would need to examine your tooth and x-ray to give you an accurate diagnosis, we can offer insight that might help you decide what to do next.

Pain from a tooth that looks healthy

Man in his 40s with a headache and toothache holding the side of his face
Headache and toothache pain are not always easy to diagnose

It is not uncommon to feel pain in a tooth that looks healthy in a visual examination and on an x-ray. Some causes of tooth pain include:

  • Referred pain – Infection from a tooth can refer to an opposite upper or lower tooth. Or it can feel like the pain is coming from an adjacent tooth. But pain does not refer from one side of the mouth to the other.
  • Neuralgia – Chronic nerve pain can transfer in your face, jaw, teeth, or gums. Although the condition is usually not the cause of a toothache and headache, a nerve problem can feel like a toothache. That is why your dentist recommended that you see a neurologist.
  • Infection – A sinus infection can cause headaches and pain that feels like a toothache. The maxillary sinus is near the roots of upper teeth and can press on the roots, causing a toothache sensation. Sinus pain can also transfer to a lower tooth.
  • Other health issues – Some conditions that can feel like a toothache and cause headaches include jaw pain, clenching or grinding your teeth, or gum disease. According to the American Migraine Foundation, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders can contribute to chronic headaches.

If you feel that your dentist is not a good listener or rushed for a diagnosis, we suggest getting a second opinion. You can get a second opinion from another dentist or a root canal specialist (endodontist).

Are your tooth pain and headache a dental emergency?

Sudden or lingering toothache – If you have a sudden or lingering toothache and headache but no recent dental work, see a dentist right away. Toothaches are most often a symptom of infection.

Toothache after dental work – If you had root canal treatment or other dental work that seems to be your pain source, contact the dentist who completed the treatment. If the pain persists beyond the healing period or gets worse, consider it an emergency.

Dr. Ryan Perry, a Baton Rouge family dentist, sponsors this post.