Question:
four months ago i was referred to an endodonist and she diagonosed i needed
a root canal in one of my lower back teeth on the right side. Previously to
that i had a root canal done on another tooth. At that time my dentist said the
tooth right next to it was "close" to needing a root canal because the decay
was deep. Over the past five years I've had TONS of dental work done,
repeatedly for cavities and lots of decay, especially discoloration from having
braces. About four months ago like I said, I started having THROBBING pain in
this area, headaches in my temple, complete and unmanagable PAIN whenever I bit
down on that bottom right side... x rays showed nothing but the endodonist did
tests and it turned out that particular tooth (next to the root canaled one,
that almost needed a root canal) was no longer sensitive to cold at all.
I had an appointment to begin root canal therapy but backed out of it due to
not having coverage at the time. For a few months now i've had coverage but
have been too lazy to go... i'm going to call tomorrow, i really haven't had
any problems whatsoever after my dentist gave me Peroxyl and put me on
antibiotics (all the pain went away and hasn't really come back since) but now
and then the tooth feels "dull" and I get an uncomfortable feeling in that
area, right side neck stiffness, a noticable movable salivary gland on my neck-
below the ear that feels clogged... and also feeling like i have a slight
temperature every time the tooth acts up. So, are these truly signs of an
abcessed tooth? I did notice the dentist feel my neck before when I needed a
root canal... Would an abcessed tooth causethese things? I can bite and
everything on this tooth (since the antibiotics) but it just feels weird,
especially if i press on it.
Answer:
I'd go for the root canal therapy. The abscess will eventually loosen
and destroy the root. Then, of course, it is too late!
Go get the tooth fixed!!!!!!!!!
All those symptoms could come from an "abscessed tooth". They could come
from something else too. You know you have a "bad" tooth. Get that fixed
and see if the problems disappear. If not, then research those problems
further.
There is a long list of possible complications for not having the tooth
treated in time.
Lack of cold response in a previously sensitive tooth is the "death nell"
for the nerve and pulp tissue. When the 'brown stuff hits the fan" it will
be on a weekend when we are golfing or doing something else and the office
is closed. It might be 24 hours before we can even call in a prescription to
cover the symptoms.
