Saving a tooth

[deborahjross]

I had dental surgery earlier today on that top molar that failed a root canal and earlier apicoectomy. It had been draining for some months, and x-rays showed bone loss/abscess. Surgery went well -- I really like this endodontist. He talked me through all the needles -- 3 "layers" of anesthetic -- then worked slowly and very carefully. Obviously, a perfectionist, a good thing in a dentist. He excavated (is that the right word?) a far larger area than the first surgery. In doing so, he not only cleaned out all the infected tissue, but found an accessory canal, which he believes was the source of the infection. All is now trimmed away and sealed. The other good news is that I have a good amount of healthy bone left, so even with one (of 3) root clipped short, the tooth will have a solid anchor. I'm a little less optimistic about the final result than he is, since things looked good after the first surgery, too, but we will know for sure when we take new x-rays to see the bone healing (and the drainage fistula disappears). Not sure if that's 6 months or a year; will find out when sutures come out on Monday. Still, it looks very much like this has a good chance of preserving an otherwise sound tooth, and the only other alternative would be extraction, which I very much do not want to do. So.. help me think positive thoughts!

Comments

[patchwork-prose.livejournal.com]

Definitely! Good dental health is SO important and so often dismissed.

Glad it seems to have turned out well.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Thank you! yes, good dental health affects not only nutrition and appearance, but cardiac health. Many people don't realize that the mouth can be a reservoir of infection that can damage heart valves and affect other organs. As good as implants are, nothing compares with a natural tooth in functionality.

[christymarx.livejournal.com]

Excellent news! Beaming healing vibes in your direction========>>>>>

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's the 2nd day now, and my mouth is much less sore than I had been warned/led to believe. I'd been taking 1,000 mg vitamin C twice a day since I learned of the abscess. I suspect it helped my immune system hold the infection in check, and of course is necessary for collagen formation in both bone and soft tissue healing. Now I also need to get extra protein and calcium to help with the bone.

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Fingers crossed it's all cleaned out and good.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed! I'll get the sutures out on Monday, and we'll make a plan on when to re-x-ray and check. If it doesn't work, at least I'll be easy that I did everything possible.