Expert: Rafael Mosery,D.D.S. - 2/12/2007

Question
A few years ago, I got a root canal done and the dentist put a temporary filling in.  The temporary filling fell out or wore out a few months after that.  Since then, I have been to the dentist, and the new dentist let me know that decay was growing in the hole, so he would clean it up and get me prepped for a crown.  That was about 6 months ago.  Well, last week, I felt the hole of the tooth, and I felt tissue (it feels like maybe my gums??) growing through the hole of the tooth.  It doesn't give me pain or anything, but the tissue is visible even when I look in the mirror at the hole, I can see the tissue sticking out of the hole, and it is bulging, like if I let it continue to grow, it will continue to do so with no problem.  I am going to the dentist today, but I want to be prepared for what they will tell me.  I am willing to get it worked on, but what in the world is that tissue, can they remove it with out me severely bleeding, and do they have to pull the tooth?  I do NOT want them to pull the tooth, I would rather them just get the work over with.  So can you give me some advise as to what is going on?  Thank you so much for your time.  Oh, I am also 6 months pregnant, which I told my dentists' office.  They are going to clean my teeth today, and look at what the problem could be.  

Answer
This tooth is probably not restorable.After being "open "for so long the root canal therapy you had done is contaminated .The temporary filling you had placed originally was "temporary".The tissue you're referring to probably grew into the tooth from a broken side of the tooth ,this is granulation tissue and when they go to remove it ,it's prone to bleed somewhat.If the treating dentist decides after cleaning up this tooth that it could be saved,you would be well advised to have the post and temporary crown in place and totally pain free before getting the finished crown cemented.You need an x ray to determine the health of this tooth before any further treatment like a post and crown is done.It may not be most prudent to save.