Root Canal Complications

[kvw53]

I had a root canal on 5/6/08.  I noticed swelling a few weeks later in my face and neck and went back to the dentist who said this was not caused by the tooth.  I then went to an endodontist who confirmed this.  I had an ultra sound of the neck and was told there was no lump although I feel there is a lump (probably swollen lymph nodes).  I then consulted an ENT doctor who thought the swelling was from the tooth and told me to go to an oral surgeon.  When I saw the oral surgeon he took a full mouth xray and found the infection in my jaw.  I was told by the oral surgeon that the tooth I just had the root canal on should be pulled.  I then went back to the dentist and had the tooth pulled and he prepped me for a bridge.  I now have a temporary bridge over the extraction.  The swelling in my face and neck has gotten worse so I went back to the dentist yesterday and was told it might be the tooth in front of the tooth they just extracted!!!  I am at my wit's end.  I feel tired all the time and am experiencing pain behind my eye and am having heart palpitations several times a day.  Do you have any idea what is causing theses symptoms and where I should go next to get relief?

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

You may want to see your primary care physician to rule out any systemic problems that are undiagnosed.  The symptoms you are describing could be tooth related but with your dentist, an oral surgeon, ENT and endodontist all evaluating you thoroughly, it sounds unlikely that its a localized tooth problem.

[simpleman1]

How is your general health? I had actually seen two cases with patients having general health problems and infection never got under control until they found out the medical problem. If an endodontist gave his expert opinion that the root canal looks fine and the infection according to surgeon might be coming from the same tooth...In my opinion it might be a good idea to have a physical done with immunity check.