Hi Everyone, i don't know if anyone remembers any of my previous posts about my troublesome root canaled tooth so here goes, i had a root canal 2 years ago and it was fine for 18 mths then got infected, i had it redone this year but this week it blew up worse then ever and i have been in agony. I have just looked in the mirror and noticed that there is a quite visible crack right across the centre although it doesn't go anywhere near the gum line. Does anyone know if this could have caused the infection and the previous infection as well?, the tooth is a large molar by the way. I need to know as i am visiting a new dentist on Monday( My fourth in 2 years , they all let me down in one way or another) and i don't want to waste good money on getting a full crown etc for it to blow up again. Sorry for going on but i get in quite a state about my teeth, i don't know why but it really affects me so much so that i am going to the docs tomorrow to get some valium to enable me to visit the new dentist next week cause i am petrified, i also have a dressing that extends over 3 teeth that are awaiting permanent repair ie root canal on at least one and all beacause my previous dentist failed to spot any decay on numerous check ups. Anyway any comments would be appreciated especially about the cracked tooth or if you have had problems with dentists failing you. thanks for reading this.Maz

[This message has been edited by maz (edited 10-31-2002).]

Maz, your tooth sounds like mine. In 2 years I had 3 root canals on this one tooth and finally had it pulled last Aug. My jaw still hurts cause I waited so long and had the infection so long I think. My tooth never showed a crack or anything. From my experience having a bad tooth that long only causes more trouble in the jaw bone. If i knew then what I know now I would have pulled it when I had the second infection in it instead of trying to save it. I now have had a bone scan and a MRi to try and find out why I still have pain. And yes I have had a dentist let me down. As a matter of fact I got a letter in the mail yesterday from my dentist telling me to find me a new dentist cause he is done with me and does not want to treat me any more. The same one that took my money for the root canals and a crown and the extraction. Says he never had a patient like me that feels things that other people do not feel. Like I am the only one ever who still has pain after services he performed on me. I was so shocked I had to read that letter 3 times for it to sink in. It hurt my feelings and I feel like a freak or something. I am afraid to go to the dentist anymore and never was that way before. Now I have to find a new dentist and again and feel really insecure about it after this episode........ Good luck with your teeth...

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Sher

Thanks for your reply sher, i guess there is only one option left open to me and that is extraction. I can't believe the pain i have had from this one tooth since" the root canals were done, my dentist told me that once it's dead you will never have a problem again" oh yeah!. rhis week has been the worst infection and i have been quite ill with swollen glands etc. It worries me that my jawbone will be badly affected as i itend to get an implant done (if the bank will give me a loan that is). It is so unfortunate that we have been unlucky with our choice of dentists, i live in the uk and most of the time yu are just treated like cattle ( unless you are prepared to pay vasts amounts of money). I too feel like a freak now but i know that before my dental problems i was one of the happiest people around. i went to see the doctor yesterday and explained everything to her and she was great and told me that i do indeed have a serious phobia about trusting dentists but she said it wasn't all that uncommon and i would come through it one day. anyway i left the surgery with a prescription for some valium to help me through the visit on monday with the new dentist. i do hope all goes well for you and that we find a good caring dentist. Maz

Maz, I too had the swollen glands, forgot to mention that. Had swollen glands under my chin or jaw area and also in my arm pits. After the extraction my swollen glands went away. Today I am having panic atack feelngs in my chest and breathing from thinking about this dental stuff. I am gald your doc gave you some valium. Good Luck. I hope your new dentist is one that cares and does good by you...

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Sher

Sher, I too have suffered panic attacks caused by dental anxiety and it is awful. have you tried the internet for relaxation techniques, i downloaded a 30 minute session a while ago and it was great, i put on on to my partner's laptop and listened to it in bed, trouble is i seem to have lost it but if i have time later i will try and find it on the net again. of course this doesen't realy help with visiting the dentist(hence the valium) but it can ease those panicky thoughts and sleepless nights. kind regards

Maz

Well the day is here when i visit yet another dentist and i feel worse than ever. Tried everything to try and calm myself but nothing works, i keep telling myself that some of these feelings are totally irrational but but to no avail. I guess i am frightened of what else will be wrong as well as the root canal, my last dentist missed major decay until it wasso bad i am likely to need antoher root canal. I should be having x-rays today and i am scared that most of them will be messed up. Apparantly the ones with the deep decay appeared totally healthy and unfilled until i complained of toothache and an xray was finally taken of the area. Anyway must go now and try and prepare myself.

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Maz

Dear Maz, In hale deep and fill your lungs slowly and exhale slowly and do that 3 times and take the valium and say a prayer for God's angels to be with you during your dental visit. I hope that helps and every thing turns out pain free and stress free for you today.

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Sher

Thanks Sher i took your advice and i DID it. I can't believe it he ws so nice, i had a full check up of my teeth and gums, one of those full head x-rays and a good chat about my anxiety. he didn't touch the root canled tooth as i am still taking the antibiotics but i am going back in a month to discuss my options regarding extraction etc. he even said i would be able to be sedated for the extraction which would be great. The other thing he mentioned was having the tooth root canaled again by a specialist which could prove quite expensive but would have more chance of working than with a general dentist. Sher was yours done by a general dentist or a specialist?, i would hate to throw away more good money after bad on this stupid tooth. Anyway thanks for the advice i don't know what i must have looked like sat in the waiting room doing my deep breathing but it helped me along with the valium of course. Kind regards

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Maz

Maz, I am glad every thing turned out ok with your dental visit. The deep breathing I read about in some book on anxiety and it works for me too at times, you asked about who did my root canals, regular dentist did it the first time and I paid him then he did a it the 2nd time no charge then 3rd time I had it done by endodontist and paid again. Mine was complicated as the root tip was calcified and they could never get all the way thru the tooth. I have to say after the 3rd time by the endodotist the tooth did get better but I had jaw pain and infection that was cause by the tooth and finally had to get rid of the tooth to see if that would get rid of the jaw bone infection and pain. It has been 2 months now since the extraction and my jaw bone still aches where the tooth was. Seems to be less than before so I am hoping it will all go away. Still waiting on results from a MRI to see if the bone is still infected or if I have nerve damage from having infection so long. I should of gotten rid of the tooth sooner but was trying to save it for 2 years and never had one extracted before and was very scared. Now I need to find me a new dentist and I hope I am as lucky as you were today...... Don't you feel a huge relief now that the dental visit is over? I bet you do....

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Sher

Dear Sher, Yes i felt a huge relief but i am not out of the woods yet but at least have have at last found someone i can trust (fingers crossed). I got so worked up yesterday that i couldn't keep still all evening. I really hope you find a good caring dentist who understands you. I am debating now whether to go for a retreatment with the specialist but somethng tells me it is the wrong path to take. i read a snippet of the root canal cover up book and it really scared me. How have you gone on with the bone scan etc? i hope it all turns out well for you, i can't believe that we could suffer so much pain from one tooth and a dead one at that. kind thoughts

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Maz