Expert: Tony Appleton BDS DPDS - 12/2/2008

Question
QUESTION: Is it normal to have pain in a teeth next to the teeth where a root canal and wisdom teeth extraction was performed? I had my top and lower right wisdom teeth pull, and the teeth next to it became sore, I was told by my dentist that I had a abscess and I needed to have a root canal on that teeth. Well the the teeth next to the teeth that I had the root canal is hurtin now. Is that normal and will I need another root canal. I had medicated fillings put in both teeth.

ANSWER: Hi Taressa

Simply having the wisdom tooth extracted and the root canal treatment on the adjacent tooth will not cause trouble with this third tooth.  If there is decay in this tooth then that is the likeliest cause for your symptoms.  Whether or not you need root canal treatment depends on how deep the cavity is.

Regards

Tony Appleton

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My question is sort of related to the question I asked before. Can having too much dental work did to a teeth cause a tooth to get a abscess or infection on it? Reason being is because I went to a dentist last year to have dental work did to my mouth. I was told by the dentist that I will need 7 fillings and 2 root canals. Well the dentist did the fillings with composite fillings, but I started having sensitivity to cold and hot food. For over a year I have been suffering with my mouth. I just went to a new dentist who drill through the composite fillings and put some medicated fillings in the teeth until I get an approval form my insurance for inlay fillings. While I've been waiting on that I had my top and lower wisdom teeth pulled on the right side. After having the teeth pulled I started having pain in my teeth next to the teeth I had pulled at the top. I was told by my new dentist after she did an X-ray that I had an abscess on my teeth, and would need to have a root canal; I had the root canal did to that teeth and not even 3 days later I started having pain with the teeth next to that teeth which also had a composite filling and now have a medicated filling. So I'm just wondering can having too much work done to a teeth can cause a teeth to get an abscess or infection. Thanks

Answer
Hi Taressa

Any tooth that has had work done to it could potentially develop an abscess.  An abscess forms when the pulp of the tooth dies and becomes infected.  Any insult to the tooth can cause the pulp to die, such as decay or having the tooth drilled.  Obviously the majority of fillings that are done cause no trouble whatsoever - but the potential is there.

Regards

Tony Appleton