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You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Dentistry > Dentistry > Apicoectomy gone bad?
Dentistry - Apicoectomy gone bad?
Expert: Gary Backlund, DMD, MSD - 11/2/2009
Question
Hi Dr. Backlund,
I have written to you in the past for other dental problems that I've had and I just want to say how AWESOME I think your advice is and how grateful I am that you are here to help people like me. Just thought I'd say that up front!
Ok, so here is my issue. 2 years ago, I had a root canal done by my dentist on tooth number 13. This was a BIG MISTAKE (had I read your answers before that procedure I would have gone to an endodontist for sure), and it failed. I ended up having to have an apicoectomy done on that tooth. So about a week ago, the tooth started to act oddly. It felt like I had something stuck between it and couldn't get it out. I am neurotic about brushing and flossing, but teeth number 13 and 14 are both crowned and when I floss between them the floss away smells like decaying food. I mentioned this to my dentist, but he didn't seem to think anything of it. Today however, I have noticed a bit of swelling above number 13--like an abscess is forming. It feels sort of mushy and just not right. I do not have any pain. No chewing discomfort, no classic signs of an abscess aside from the swelling. Is is still possible that there is something else going on besides an abscess and since this tooth has already had an apico done it what are my options at this point? BTW, I have an appt. with my dentist at 9am tomorrow, but I just wanted to see what you said before I got there. THANKS A BUNCH, DR. B!!! ;)
Answer
Hi Tanya,
First, thank you for the kind words....I'm glad I can be of help on this Board!
Without being able to exam you, it's tough for me to diagnosis your problem. However, it certainly sounds like things could be going wrong with the apico. They are NOT 100% successful. In fact, the success rate for apical surgery is probably closer to 75-80%. If this turns out to be the problem, you will have two options....redo the surgery or have the tooth extracted. I assume you had an endodontist do the surgery, so before you make any decisions, I would go back to get a recheck where the surgery was done. If there is not something obvious that can be fixed, then perhaps extraction would be the best option. There are just some teeth that don't respond to therapy, no matter how bad we want things to work.
I'm sorry to give you this bad news, but this is the situation. I hope your dentist finds some other cause of your problem, but if not, at least you will have already heard the worse....
Hope this helps. Let me know what you find out tomorrow. Good luck!
Gary Backlund DMD, MSD
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