Question:
The picture does not show the root canal itself, just the outside of the
roots.
I suspect it was not done well and should have been retreated by an
endodontist or other dentist well versed in endo.
Answer:
During most of my adult life, I have suffered from swollen lymph
nodes, tiredness, and just generally feeling badly. My regular doctor
has tested for everything from AIDS to Lyme Disease. My symptoms
would go away with an antibiotic treatment such as Zithromax. They
would go away for about a month or so and then return after the
antibiotic wore off. Is it possible that the infection in this tooth
even when it wasn't causing pain could have been causing these
problems all along. I am just now forming this possible theory after
reading all of the bizzare stuff on the internet about root canals. I
know that most of this is probably pretty out there as far as dentists
are concerned. Root canals may be okay if they are done properly.
Mine was not done properly. I will also say that I had not read any
of this stuff or even considered the root canal as the source of my
problems until I started reading all of this stuff.
I can see where a ongoing infection in the body, even a small one
constantly triggering the immune system to fight could make a person
feel generally bad. This root canal was infected at times, maybe all
the time, no doubt about it, I have had at least 4 major toothaches
from this tooth. They were always knocked down with antibiotic and
the tooth would feel normal again. So..and I know you will get me
for this, I never went back to the dentist for retreatment of the root
canal. My main reason for this was the nightmare experience I had
getting the root canal in the first place. The root canal was
originally performed by a Endontist.
I still have questions about the proper healing of the socket. It has
now been 33 hours since the extraction of the tooth. The blood clot
in the socket has turned almost a black color. I have rinsed it
gently twice today with warm salt water. I have ate mostly soft foods
today such as ice cream and luke-warm soup. All of my chewing was
restricted to the other side of my mouth. Last night, I slept in a
chair with my head elevated.
There is only a little pain in the extraction spot now which is
completely knocked out with 800mg of Ibuprofen. For such a big hole,
the pain is really minimal. I guess my main question is what are the
signs I can look for to know that complete healing has taken place and
I can go back to eating normally and not worrying about putting my
tongue on it...etc..etc. My tongue really wants to explore that spot,
it takes a real effort to keep my tongue from going over there :).
I know that you may say this is psycological, but on this second day,
I feel amazingly good. It literally feels as if a weight has been
lifted from my shoulders. I don't feel tired, I don't have aching
joints or any of the other symptoms I have struggled with for most of
my adult life. I am also on antibiotics right now so that may
explain it as well. I always feel much better when taking
antibiotics. For some people it is narcotics, for me it is
antibiotics, I am addicted to them :) I am somewhat of a
hypochondriac (sp?) by nature..but I have had a lot of problems with
my health during my adult life and I am now wondering if this tooth
may have been responsible or partially responsible for them.
I would like to see inside the tooth and see the actual canal work to
see what it looks like. When the tooth was first pulled, there were
tiny pieces of those rubber cones it was packed with sticking out the
end. You can also see the one root has been eaten away from the
infection. There is also a spot on the side of the tooth under the
crown that was eaten by tooth decay. It is about the size of half a
BB. I would also like to know what was going on inside the tooth.
How could I cut or section the tooth without destroying it. Should I
try to take a section across or down the roots? What method should I
use for cutting it?
