Expert: Lawrence Spindel DDS, www.lspindeldds.com - 2/15/2009

Question
Started experiencing pain last Sat on a flight. Pain became very intense at home on Sunday, started taking advil, and saw Dentist on Tuesday. Dentist saw small cavity in lower back left molar, drilled and filed down tooth (to preclude future grinding), and in treating tooth he did a "light test" to diagnose issue as a vertical fracture. About 30 hours later, on Thursday night, my lower lip and chin felt as if I'd had taken a new shot of Novocaine (Tuesday had been first time ever having had it), and it all went numb again. On Friday I went to an Endodontist who confirmed vertical fracture and did a root canal. She also prescribed antibiotic cyclamyicin to reduce infection in upper neck so at this point I've been on cyclamyicin for around 34 hours. I've also been taking 2 200-7.5 Vicoprofens every 4-6 hours for pain, although I've now gone approx. 8 hours without...   It's early Sat evening and lip and chin are still numb - is this numbness (nerve issue) a common side effect and is there high probability of return to normal once antibiotics prevail? I'm hopeful all will be well again, but third party reassurance and experience would be most welcome, as well as any advice should there be anything else I can or should be doing at this time...many thx!

Answer
Dear Lee,

Although I can not diagnose and treat your condition over the Internet, I can offer some general information about what you are experiencing.

Infected lower teeth can cause affect the mandibular nerve which can cause numbness in the jaw, the lip and the chin.  Most people with infected lower teeth do not experience this symptom,but occasionally it does occur.  

Treatment of the source of the infection should make the numbness go away. It does sound like you are getting appropriate treatment and there is a high probability that your numbness will go away. I understand your concern, but it is still early in your course of treatment and if the infection is under control then I do believe you numbness will start to go away.

I hope this information is helpful to you and please feel free to contact me again with any dental questions.