re-infected root canal after placement of permanent crown - is this possible??? - Dental Health Message Board

shineon2 · 06-30-2008, 12:06 PM

Hello All

Was wondering if anyone has experienced this situation

Two months ago I had a root canal after having air and heat sensitivity to a bottom molar that had been preped for a crown and had a temp. placed on. My Endo. (great doctor) noted that there was a slight gap between the temp and gum line and this most likely caused irritation to my nerve - we decided to to the RCT at that time.

I felt fine for the next two weeks until I got the permanent crown put on (in between my dentist made a new temp.) and then just a few days after the permanent crown was placed on I begn having similar sympoms again - sensitivity to mostly air and some heat sensitivity. I have been in to my dentist three times since for bite adjustments and will be going in again tomorrow for some xrays. He does not yet want me to see the Endo. but at this point I am concerned that something related to the perm. crown is causing my symptoms again. Has anyone else had this experience? Re-infection/irritation of a root canaled tooth after the placement of a perm. crown? If so you insights will be helpful in guiding my converstation with my dentist tomorrow.

Many Thanks!

Thelma-Louise · 06-30-2008, 07:33 PM

Well it could be the crown is too high and you are gnashing it with another tooth or that cement is wedged near the margin of the tooth. Sometimes I have found perm crowns do disturb a otherwise healthy tooth - I am not sure if its from the perm cement used or the metal used under the crown that the porcelain is fused to - or maybe the weight of the crown - but I have had problems with perm crowns in the past not feeling as good as the temp did. Most of my teeth with rcs retained some sensitivity and flareup from time to time and then settle back down and only one has ever had to be retreated.

shineon2 · 07-01-2008, 11:49 AM

Thanks for your reply. Seems like the sesation may be coming from the adjacent tooth as there is some receding gum there - that seemed to come along after my crown tooth was preped for the crown. I came home to find that the tooth next to it looked as if the natural contour had been changed. I don't know - just seems one thing after another. Crowns are still sore to chew on - even after 4 bite adjustments and root canals. My doctor just says wait it out.... Thanks again!

Thelma-Louise · 07-01-2008, 09:21 PM

Yeah - to be honest I have a very extensive dental history and now have tmj which I believe started with replacement bridges and crowns not fitting well and the dentist that did them said just give it some time and I would get used to it - when the pain became unbearable and widespread he said it couldn't possibly be due to his dental work since quite a bit of time had passed since it had been done - so don't wait too long. It soundls like the dr adjusted a natural tooth to get the crown to fit correctly and that should never be done, in my opinion. It might be the adjustment exposed some of the nerve on the other tooth and that is what is causing sensitivity and pain.

Patsyclark55 · 07-08-2010, 10:37 AM

I had a root canal that became re-infected because the dentist misssed one of the smaller roots. Apparently there are instances (like in my mouth) where a tooth has more roots than normal and sometimes these are difficult to see. I went to an endodontist after the original treatment and he was able to fix the problem .