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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / June 2004Will root canal work for a tooth that was knocked downward?
Hello, I realize that advice on USENET without an examination is of limited application. I would, nonetheless, like an opinion on whether root canal or extraction is better for my situation. On June 12 I was hit with a bat in the face in a random gang assault (seriously). Three teeth were lost outright and were extracted by the oral surgery clinic attached to the ER that treated me. For a week or so I lay about healing, then I saw my dentist, who noted that the tooth adjoining the 3 lost teeth is darkening and wants to assess it for a possible root canal in a few weeks. He did not x-ray it at the time, and I have only now realized, through my fog, that the tooth is somewhat lower (it is a top-row incisor) than it once was. It is also slightly loose. Nobody in the ER, or the university's oral surgery clinic, or worst of all, I, caught this. Remember, the injury occurred on June 12. On Monday, June 28, I will see an oral surgeon as a consult for those implants. I will ask him about that tooth, but I would like to know what you think here: can a tooth that was knocked out of its position a few weeks ago be saved by root canal? Can the root-canal dentist manipulate the tooth to its original position? Or should I have it yanked and replaced with an implant along with its 3 missing neighbors, so that I can skip the inevitable failure of root canal? Thanks for whatever suggestion or opinion you can formulate. > Hello, I realize that advice on USENET without an examination is of > limited application. I would, nonetheless, like an opinion on whether [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Thanks for whatever suggestion or opinion you can formulate. If it's darkening, that usually means necrosis is ocurring in that tooth, and if it is to be kept, it would require a root canal procedure. One should reserve final decision on the treatment until proper x-rays and examinations can be done. If the bone around the tooth can heal with good support, I would let that happen and then move the tooth back orthodontically. I think that the tooth has seen enough trauma and we don't want the bone surrounding it to begin resorbing the root. One has to evaluate the possibility for success of this treament (healing the surrounding bone plus moving the tooth back into position). I think that it will take time before you know how things will develop. In the meantime, if you start to have sensitivity or pain in that tooth or others, notify your dentist. I would hesitate to recommend a root canal procedure unless I felt that the chances that the tooth would stay healthy would be excellent. For this, I think you want to have an opinion from the oral surgeon, periodontist and the orthodontist. Preferably, these should consult each other and decide. Hope this helps, and a sincere good luck!  SignatureCheers/Chüss SP 'A Day...' is not a real email >Hello, I realize that advice on USENET without an examination is of >limited application. Nope, you get better advice here than in person .... kidding .... but you get the message. > I would, nonetheless, like an opinion on whether >root canal or extraction is better for my situation. Root canal. >On June 12 I was hit with a bat in the face in a random gang assault >(seriously). Three teeth were lost outright and were extracted by the >oral surgery clinic attached to the ER that treated me. For a week or >so I lay about healing, then I saw my dentist, who noted that the >tooth adjoining the 3 lost teeth is darkening and wants to assess it >for a possible root canal in a few weeks. STOP LOOK and LISTEN. You need a long term plan here. Fixed (non-removable) bridgework? Implants? Who pays? Etc. > He did not x-ray it at the >time, and I have only now realized, through my fog, that the tooth is >somewhat lower (it is a top-row incisor) than it once was. It is also >slightly loose. Nobody in the ER, or the university's oral surgery >clinic, or worst of all, I, caught this. Remember, the injury occurred >on June 12. It may be no good ... I'd wait for a complete set of x-rays and request the doc if he is digital to post them for us to see. If he is not digital, then you can borrow them, tape them to a window (even in the doc's office) and use a digital camera to get some nice shots. So easy, so good for second opinions ...... why are we still in the pre-Renaissance times? >On Monday, June 28, I will see an oral surgeon as a consult for those >implants. I will ask him about that tooth, but I would like to know >what you think here: can a tooth that was knocked out of its position >a few weeks ago be saved by root canal? What is the story with the $12K that this may cost? > Can the root-canal dentist >manipulate the tooth to its original position? Or should I have it >yanked and replaced with an implant along with its 3 missing >neighbors, so that I can skip the inevitable failure of root canal? Yup, I am thinking that too ....... For meaningful discussions, POST X-rays! JOEL >Thanks for whatever suggestion or opinion you can formulate. > >Hello, I realize that advice on USENET without an examination is of > >limited application. [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > > For meaningful discussions, POST X-rays! I do not have access to the x-rays right now and don't have the means to post them to the web. Am picking them up from the hospital and taking them to the oral surgeon tomorrow. This was an "accidental" loss of sound teeth, so it is a matter for medical insurance. But thanks for the input, folks >On Monday, June 28, I will see an oral surgeon as a consult for those >implants. I will ask him about that tooth, but I would like to know >what you think here: can a tooth that was knocked out of its position >a few weeks ago be saved by root canal? Sometimes. >Can the root-canal dentist >manipulate the tooth to its original position? No. >Or should I have it >yanked and replaced with an implant along with its 3 missing >neighbors, Best decided by the surgeon. >so that I can skip the inevitable failure of root canal? Root Canal Therapy is sucessfull 95 -98 % of the time. Failure is *not* inevitable. -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com |
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