Re: Question about apiectomy

jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

I had an apiectomy done on Sept. 27 on an upper left molar. The tooth
was crowned about 15 years ago (it was cracked) then had a root canal a
year ago after probably a couple of years of pain which transitioned
from minor annoyance with pressure to full blown full time ohmygosh
toothache. The root canal settled it down for about 3 weeks, after
which it started to be sensitive to pressure again. After a year it was
starting to ache probably 80% of the time. The endo didn't see anything
on the xrays but I agreed to the procedure as it was his next step. He
went in from the front of the jaw and did the front two roots, and said
it didn't look like there was anything wrong at all. But the roots were
right up against the sinus wall so he said that maybe that would help.
I had the procedure done on a Tuesday, and there was only minor
swelling until Friday night/Sat. morning when it really puffed up and
was hurting like heck. He gave me a prescription for Clindamycin
(didn't give me any antibiotics before or at the time of the procedure)
and I was on it for ten days. The swelling started going down on the
5th day or so. The pain went away for the most part until maybe a week
or so ago, when it started to get real tender again. It is now very
sensitive to pressure, and is aching much of the time. I have been
wearing a night guard for 4 nights because I thought maybe I was
grinding, but it hasn't helped. It is also a little swollen again. I
had a regular cleaning Monday of last week and the dentist xrayed it
and said it looked good, and that it could take up to 6 months to fully
heal and recover.

My question is - does this sound like a recovery that is in the realm
of normal? It's been a month since the procedure and it's still more
painful than before the procedure. Should I just get my pliers out?  :)
Thanks in advance for any info!


Obviously this is not what we like to see. Increased pain after a month is not a good sign.
Of course, there is a chance it is another tooth, or even a sinus problem. Usually the source of the infection becomes clearer if you wait a bit. However, a high proportion of teeth that have a history like yours turn out to be fractured--something which isn't readily apparent until the tooth is extracted.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001
.

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