After a very long saga with still painful failed root canals, going to have one tooth pulled (hopefully the right one) HOWEVER, I am now in terrible pain on the bottom of that quadrant after having another cracked tooth and fixing it with a crown (this is how the other problems started). Dentist sees no reason for any pain , except an inflammatory response--no infections, etc...just PAIN--I am just wondering if I am allergic to the temporary plastic or the filling ??????
Anyone had this reaction? (and what should I expect with the tooth extraction?)
thanks

It really sounds like another cracked tooth! Are you a heavy grinder?

Yes, it was a cracked tooth--that's why the crown--but alas a root canal was done to fix that problem,--but the root canal tooth STILL hurts!!--I have heard of "redos"--does that usually help?? (only one canal) another possible "allergic" reaction?????--no infection the dentist says and I am on an antibiotic anyway......

if the crack goes all the way through the tooth, even a perfect root canal won't fix it, probably have to pull it. :(

DON'T LET THEM PULL YOUR TOOTH!!!!!!

Hi, if you had a cracked tooth that was restored with a crown, you're good. That's the purpose of the crown-to restore the tooth and hold it together. Chances are, it's not cracked again. When you get a tooth prepped for a crown, they completely remove the broken piece, thus, you have very minimal amount of tooth structure left if a large piece was broken. In fact, the main reason crowns are placed is because too large of an amount of tooth structure was lost. If you had a root canal, you would not feel any pain from a crack, which would obviously not be present, anyway, because of the crown. It is possible the root canal failed if there is an accessory root canal that is inaccessible by the dentist. Sometimes dentists will refer you to an endodontist - a specialist in root canals - and they will re-open the canals, re-clear them, and re-fill them. Sometimes this is effective, sometimes it is not. It is worth a try - you never want to lose a tooth if at all avoidable!!! That's a whole different explanation, but it is very important that you do everything possible to keep a tooth - even one with a root canal...especially one with a root canal after you spent the time/money it!

As far as an allergy...this is very possible and very common. First of all, what type of material is the crown made of? Is it the permanent crown or the temporary crown? If it is a metal crown, or has any metal in it at all, it is possible you have an allergy to the metal. Many people have metal allergies and metal crowns in their mouths and will always have some irritation. Often times, the allergy goes away on its own after a period of time. If it is a temporary crown, it does not by any means fit the contour of your gingival margin. This will most definitely always cause irritation.

If your dentist does not detect any infection, your root canal may still have been ineffective...you may not have an active infection due to your antibiotic medication, but you may still have some feeling in the tooth if an accessory canal was not cleared. (An accessory canal is not abnormal, but atypical. Teeth have a "usual" number of roots, depending on which tooth it is, but sometimes teeth will have misplaced, or extra root canals which are very difficult to access because they are at a horizontal angle into the tooth or too small to instrument.)

I don't think the previous reply is coming from a well educated person in dental restorations and treatment. I will tell you I have some experience in the dental office as a [removed], and am almost done with dental hygiene school. I've seen a lot in the dental office, and am confient in my advice to you. Good luck! ;)

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Hi, i can tell you that I have a lot more experience in dealing with cracked teeth than an assistant. The bulk of her statement is correct, however it doesnt apply to you. Cracked teeth are some of the most difficult things to diagnose. IF the crack goes through the pulp chamber of the tooth, then the tooth is split, forcing the roots apart, that is where the pain comes from. The nerve of the tooth has been completely removed by the root canal, but the pain you feel is the bone being compressed by these mobile roots, and unfortunatley, if this is the case, extraction is the only option. From what you have said, that is my guess. Cracks like that cannont be seen on an x-ray, and may not even be visible under magnification during the root canal.

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Another thing you can do is have your dentist examine your other teeth. Do you have a lot of big fillings in your back teeth? Are there small cracks coming from them? If yes, then you might want to start thinking of why these teeth are cracking. Your bite may be in such a position that you are clenching and grinding your way through these teeth, and some sort of appliance or occlusal therapy may be needed to prevent more cracked teeth.

I agree with john's statement, although he didn't have to insult me...I didn't insult him. That's fine if he thinks he knows more than me...I do know for sure that the information I gave you is correct and accurate. I did NOT, however diagnose your problem. I DID address the the question that was asked that was about an allergy to the crown, in which john did not address at all. He took your question to another level, but just know that it is important to go through a checklist of possible ways to correct the problem before just saying "pull it!" Like I said, that should be a LAST RESORT!!! Find out what it is for sure, don't just have it yanked out. If you want an explanation why you should always save a tooth if at all possible, let me know. Or ask your own dentist.

One of the questions you need to ask/answer is WHERE is the pain? Does it feel like it's more in the bone, or is it the ginviga? The inflammatory response your dentist mentioned sounds to me like the gingiva could be involved, which would indicate the possibility that the inflammation is being caused by an allergic reaction. Is your gum tissue irritated: red, puffy, tender? Get these answers before you have your tooth pulled.

P.S. I'm almost done with dental hygiene school. Dental hygienists are professionals, who specialize in preventive care and assessing oral health, specifically the oral tissues in the mouth. Pain can come from different sources, it goes without saying...just because you have pain does NOT mean your tooth is cracked all the way through the root! Assess the simplest possibilities first before taking drastic measures!

"I don't think the previous reply is coming from a well educated person in dental restorations and treatment." No harm towards Volcano intended, but needed to clarify that I do have knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of dental disease as well. However, allergies to crowns are very uncommon, while cracked teeth are not. You stated you have had at least one additional cracked tooth, so my point is look for cows in a barn, not zebras. If you want to pursue the allergy side, there is no harm in it to your health, but may drain your time and $. If you wanted to be sure that it is not an allergy, I would go to an allergist and be tested for an allergy to gold. When that comes back negative, have a new HIGH NOBLE gold crown made for that tooth. But I still would investigate the crack angle more. If your original root canal was done without the aid of a microscope, then an option to try would be to find an endodontist with a surgical microscope, have him redo the root canal with that and see if he can visualize a crack. Believe me, I wouldn't want you to have a tooth pulled unnecessarily, because that opens up a whole new can of worms when it comes to replacing it, but do consider that the tooth has cracked through.

That is inaccurate information...allergies to the metal in crowns is common. Sometimes it is such a mild reaction that the patient does not complain. There are newer alternatives to crowns containing metal allergens that are becoming popular and more widely used, but nonetheless, plenty of people still present with allergic symptoms to metal-containing crowns.

My suggestions still stands that you need to localize the source of the pain - is it the gum tissue or the tooth? You don't have to go to an allergist to detemine if you have a metal allergy. It doesn't take a rocket scientist...if there is a persistent inflammation of gum tissue around a metal-containing crown, even when proper hygiene is administered (such as brushing/flossing), and there is no other apparent reason for inflammation involving the gingiva, there is a good chance it is an allergic response.

Also, does the crown contain metal? There's a good chance it does if it's a posterior tooth. Metal is stronger and more durable, therefore is utilized more in posterior areas because that's where the forces of chewing are the greatest.

Have you ever had an allergy to jewelry...earrings, perhaps? Believe me, if you had an allergy, you would know! You don't need a test to know you if you have a metal allergy (usually to nickel). The same type of inflammatory response will occur in the mouth if the gingival tissue is constantly in contact with the metal causing the allergic reaction. Once again...is the pain in the gingiva or the tooth?

I would like to know where john's experience does come from. Suggesting that he is not well educated is not an insult. Plenty of people offer advice based on their own personal experiences. I was merely questioning that maybe he was basing his response on merely personal experience alone. On the other hand, I am well educated, a very active learner, and am confident in my knowledge base. I was only offering my credentials so that you could verify my credibility, can he do the same?


[This is a peer support group, not a professional advice forum. Do not post your medical professional title or talk about your credentials. It often only leads to arguing, by putting undue weight upon something that is supposed to be only an opinion as a peer. Please read more about this by clicking on the "Posting Policy" above. Thanks - Well-come Moderator.]

i wasn't suggesting you go to an allergist to prove a metal allergy, that would be impossible due to the wide range of metals out there, you should go to one to DISPROVE an allergy to gold, have an all gold crown made and see if that stops the pain. If yes, then it was a metal allergy, if no, then look elsewhere.