I have a tooth right in front that has had a root canal about 20 years ago and repacked a couple of years ago. About every 2 or 3 years, I get an infection in the canal which is mostly treated by antibiotics, but last time he wanted to repack it. I am really tired of this and am thinking just pull it, replace it and be done with it. Ever since the first root canal the tooth has been moving and is now at least 1/8" further back than the other big tooth beside it.
Anyone done this and gotten an implant? Better or worse? Should I tough it out and just deal with the infection, antibiotics and eventually another repack?
Oh, and on top of this, I have tennis elbow and have an appt Friday with a dr. Today I went to the optometrist, and he has a new machine that can take a picture of the inside of the eye. He found a small tear in the edge of the retina and said it had probably been there awhile, kind of a normal thing with near-sighted vision, but wants to watch it.
The good news is that I talked him into letting me try contacts with astigmatism correction and for the first time in over 10 years, I can see clearly with contacts again. Whooppee!
This message has been edited by TxNet on Jul 1, 2009 2:28 PM
My sister knocked a tooth out as a kid, and it's now replaced with an implant and looks very natural. As much of an issue as you seem to have with it, I'd probably ask the dentist opinion and go from there.
And it works very well for her. My BIL just had $6,000 worth of implants done (don't know if that's one, or 20!) and they are very pleased. I'm a big proponent of "getting it done right," vs. putting up with pain and inconvenience.
of them. One in the back and the other is in the bottom front. I would never have had the second one put in if I wasn't pleased with the first one. I had a Maryland bridge in the back before and hated it. That's why I had the first implant. The second was on a tooth that had a root canal done 30 some years ago. I'd get another implant in a heartbeat if I needed it.
They only bad thing about the process is it hurts. Alot. I took vicodin and Advil to keep the pain tolerable.
It takes awhile to get through the implant process. After the implant is put in it has to "get roots" before they put the permanent crown on. You either get a temporary crown, temporary bridge ( basically a retainer with a fake tooth in it ) or what looks like an invisalign with a fake tooth in it. I've done all three.
They are $$$$ too. The good thing is dental insurance is finally picking up some of the tab for them.
Max, I guess that $6,000 your BIL spent was for two. No way was it 20!
I may have to fight it with antibiotics until we have dental insurance again next year. Drat! I was hoping to make it through this year without any dental problems.
The dentist wasn't even there, they were having a work day and told me to drop by for an xray so I did. They didn't even charge me for it. The lady who did the xray said it is really common for root canals to leak if they don't have a crown, and more than likely the dr will repack the root canal and put a crown on it. She said dentists nowadays always put a crown on with a root canal, but the endodontist who repacked it a couple of years ago said it wasn't necessary. Different strokes I guess. I'm just tired of it flaring up every few years.
Root canals leak? Something to look forward to I guess. NOT. I had a root canal back in 2001 and did not have a crown put on it (dentist said I didn't need one). Haven't had a problem with it yet, knock on wood...
Definitely have tennis elbow and he gave me a cortisone shot. Those things hurt! My elbow had been feeling pretty good until the shot and now I can hardly move it again. Have a week of pills and then therapy and hopefully I'm good as new middle-aged again.
The pain in my elbow (which was almost gone when I went in this morning) has increased all day. Dh brought home my rx for methylpred pak 4mg about 5pm and when I read the warnings, it said not to take if you have a systemic fungal infection. I have battled candida in all my soft tissue for years so called and of course the dr is gone until Monday. So I didn't start them. I have been sitting in a chair most of the afternoon not moving my arm, but I just unloaded the dishwasher with my left hand, then noticed that my right hand and fingers are swollen. I did a search and found that in a few cases, there is something called cortisone flare where the shot crystalizes and causes intense pain that can last 48 hours. Lucky me. But I can't find anything about the shot causing swelling. Any of you nurses know if I should just ice it or if this is odd enough to call the dr emergency #?
Ice it! 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off. Since it is going on 9 p.m. where you live, I would say wait until tomorrow morning, and if it isn't better, call the doc. I don't think it is an emergency--just painful. If you are allowed to have ibuprofen or naproxin, take some for the inflammation (and pain).
I would personally call the doctor - it's not an emergency, but I don't think I'd consider it to be normal either. A doctor is on call 24 hours a day and knows he's going to get calls, I'd say they'd prefer them at 10pm as to at 3 am because it's hurting so bad you can't stand it.