Root canal - 5 months on amoxycillin

[vuz98]

My ongoing dental nightmare started at the end of Dec. 2010.  I am a runner and began to get horrible pain in upper right side area of jaw following a work out that would last for 20 mins and then go completely away.  After a few weeks the pain was intermittent when not running.  I went to the dentist Jan 3rd said 1st molar needed a root canal. Started on Jan. 10th  Did the root canal, during the treatment, pain, pressure and headaches on going, 2 courses of amoxycillin given, 4x's per day, for 10 days. Took more xrays, discovered tooth #5 badly abcessed, dentist said had been this way for some time. Started RCT on that tooth mid March, more antibiotics, same regiment, finished script headaches returned. Filled another script, headaches went away Went to endo for 2nd opinion, he said that #5 had a hopeless vertical fracture and needed to be extracted.  Had tooth extracted April 12th, antibiotics finished 10 days ago, headaches back. (1st molar still has temp on it and gives me no pain.)
I don't know where to go from here.  No prior history of headaches, regular dental care (3 cleanings per year and annual exam for last 10 yrs)

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Well, if the antibiotics work, then its likely an infection of some sort.  I only imagine its a sinus problem (sinusitis) in particular because of the lack of relief you're getting from the actual dental treatment, especially with your regular routine care.  Go see your primary or go see an ENT and get your sinus evaluated.  I wouldn't completely rule out a dental problem but I would explore other options before more root canals and extractions.

[vuz98]

Thank you so much for your prompt and helpful responses, down the road I go, :-)

[vuz98]

Primary is next step, have just assumed that it was dental and not coincidental.....headaches go away when taking antibiotics, come back 7 - 10 days after antibiotics are stopped, except for last regiment and there was occasional pain while on them.  I wondered the same about about sinuses, although no prior history but there is nothing other than headache to indicate sinus involvement, no runny nose, stuffiness, etc.  I do not have an elevated temp, I also have periods of sweating but not sure if this isn't hormonal. Endo did suggest that 1st molar be opened and treated again as he says one of the canals is "over filled" I believe was his terminology and all need to widened in his opinion, since permanent is still not on, may save problems down the road

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Does it seem that the antibiotics help with the pain?  I wonder if its not a tooth problem and possible a sinus problem.  Any nasal issues or anything else going on?  

Have you gone to your primary MD also?