Maxillary sinus cyst & dental pain

[KoalaMere]

I have been having pain and pressure in my right upper teeth starting at the canine and going back 3 teeth (#6, #5, #4, #3) for over 3 months.   I have seen a dentist who ruled out any problems with the teeth (by visual exam and x-ray), a periodontist who ruled out any problems with the gums and an endodontist who ruled out the need for a root canal.     I have been treated for a sinus infection by my primary care physician and ENT.    I have been prescribed antiobiotics (amoxycillin for 20 days and azithromycin 250mg for 7 days), prednisone for 5 days, flonase, nasonex and daily sinus rinses.    Nothing has helped.    The pain and pressure never goes away, but is definitely less intense in the morning.   The pain increases throughout the day.   The tooth pain also moves around between the 4 teeth depending on the position of my head.   I also have headaches behind my eyes, across my forehead and right cheek.

A CT scan of my sinsuses shows a 1.4 cm cyst in the maxillary sinus.    The cyst is sitting right on the bottom of the maxillary sinus above my teeth.    On the CT scan you can actually see the teeth making contact with the cyst.    My ENT is recommending surgery to remove the cyst.    However, he is not certain the cyst is the culprit causing my pain as he claims they are normally asymptomatic.

Has anyone had a personal experience with a cyst in the maxillary sinus that caused dental pain?   If so, did you have it removed and was the pain resolved?    Or if you are reading this and you are a medical expert, have you ever treated a patient with symptoms like mine and was a cyst in the maxillary sinus the cause of the pain?

Thank you.

[joy_000]

This is me, you wrote what I have been in agony over for 7 months, 10 dentists, endo's, perio's, physician, 3 ENT's..........scan revealed maxillary sinus cyst just over the teeth that hurt so bad, I mean I avoided doing major work in desperation to remedy this pain, it shut my life down, so I just had the sinus surgery, i am 4 days post operation, the pain is pretty bad in that upper molar but the ENT said he had to scrape the botton of the sinus to get all the residue, he said it was more difficult cause it was so low down, there are only 2 ways to surgically remove these beasts, and thru the mouth was not an option for me nor my ENT, as its risky, I went thru the nose, I never had surgery before so I didn't know anything about that and being put to sleep, I don't have insurance so I did patient out of pocket, There are discounts for that, verbalize that, for me, It didn't seem like an option, I had been on 4 antibiotics in 6 months, I was feeling better the week before surgery but I dreaded that pain ever returning again, I didn't realize surgery would wake up the pain again, or maybe I didn't want to think about that, I believe in the days to come it will get better, that cyst is gone, I actually look forward to a new scan just to not see it there again. I had nasal/sinus endoscopy, surgical  with maxillary antrostomy. It was the only way the ENT says to make room to get it out...I hope this helps someone, I researched so much before I did this, the funds were raised and I did it, I wish I didn't have too but I trust this has got to be the beginning to better days ahead, surgery sucks on any level, but you will get thru it....best regards!!

[Vishusvb]

Hi Joy, hope that the surgery was a success for you! If you see this could you let us know how it went? I’m in the same boat as you and the OP. I’m in so much pain and taking painkillers around the clock just to function. Otherwise I’m a mess. According to the CT scan I have prominent mucous retention cysts in my maxillary sinuses (so both sides), but it’s the left side that is really giving me hell. The dentist thought I needed root canals in two back molars, and said the very back molar is cracked (so I’m getting that extracted under sedation). I saw the endodontist and he was the one who did an X-ray which picked up the shadow of the cyst. So maybe I won’t need root canals after all? I really hope I won’t. Even with private cover (I’m in Australia) it’s hard to get to see an ENT quickly. It’s mid June and the earliest I can see one is late August. This has been going on since  July 2021 and all started with a crown (which I probably didn’t need). So fed up with it. Best wishes to everyone who is dealing with the same thing.

[joy00lee]

how are you? i hope you are feeling better. I suffered from my surgery, he was negligent.

[Vishusvb]

Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that. My pain finally subsided about a month after I made my post. I hope that you can get some sort of resolution to this nightmare.

[joy00lee]

So happy for you. I am so very not well. So you didn't end up doing anything? Did the cysts resolve on their own? Or just stop hurting you? Thank you for responding, it's very tough right now.

[Jihane19]

This post is like if I wrote it. I am having the exact same issue. Cyst, infection, ear pain, headache, tooth pain etc.... 8 doctors later oral surgeon suspects a cracked tooth. I am getting 2 root canals and if it is cracked I will have to extract it. This all started with a root canal.

[KoalaMere]

Update**  A different dentist and endodontist diagnosed both me with cracked tooth syndrome.    The crack is in one of the right upper molars.    A dome x-ray done at the endodontists office shows that the cyst in my sinus is DIRECTLY above the cracked tooth.    The endodontist believes my body created the cyst in response to the cracked tooth.     He explained the cyst is like a callus my body formed to contain anything bad that was pushing or leaking up from the cracked tooth.    He recommends a root canal and crown.

[joy00lee]

i hope you were able to avoid sinus surgery, i now have empty nose syndrome and am missing my maxillary wall. pure negligence!! pain is not even describable now. I still wonder about my tooth, its been 3 yrs and i still have that tooth. The sinus is expanded now and sits on that tooth nerve

[Kcmv]

Finally found other people who have similar symptoms to mine. I have been dealing with pain and pressure for a year. Feels like air pressure that gets caught in my gums. At times feels like the a pin stab. My dentist has replaced a the same #14 molar crown 4 times, did crown lengthening with gum surgery and filled tooth behind to try to take up 'space'. Finally got diagnosed with root extended into since with possible infection. Goin for CAT scan this week. Hope to get real answer. Also have felt like dentists haven't understood.

[joy00lee]

How are you... what happened? How did the scan go?

[Sinuspainman]

I have been having the same dental pain issues with related chronic sinus infections.  Antibiotics help with both for a few weeks before recurring again.  I also have a cyst present as shown in a ct scan.  Dentists and dental specialists can't find a problem.  I really wish something can be done to stop the dental pain as it can get unbearable at times.

[Sinuspainman]

I have been having the same dental pain issues with related chronic sinus infections.  Antibiotics help with both for a few weeks before recurring again.  I also have a cyst present as shown in a ct scan.  Dentists and dental specialists can't find a problem.  I really wish something can be done to stop the dental pain as it can get unbearable at times.

[joy_000]

how are you?  I imagine you received help by now.....I just had the surgery to remove the cyst...

[Petespain]

I have a cyst that's to be removed above where had teeth and am very curious how you folks made out with your pursuits.  Thanjx

[joy_000]

how did it go for you? I had mine removed 4 days ago in surgery

[WINGSOFANGEL]

I HAVING BEEN HAVING SINUS PROBLEMS ALL MY LIFE BUT FOR THE LAST TWO PLUS YEAR MY PNA HAS TREATED WITH LITTLE OR NO RESELTS.

LAST WEEK SHE TOOK A SINUS XRAY AND FOUND A MAXILLARY SINUS  CYST. NEXT WEEK I AM SEEING A NOSE DOCTOR TO HAVE IT REMOVED.

THE PAIN AND HEAD ACHES HAVE BEEN VERY BAD. I WENT 4 MONTHS AGO TO MY DENIST AND TOLD HIM MY TEETH ARE ALWAYS HURTING - HE KEPT SAYING THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME.

IT IS VERY HARD TO GET MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL TO LISTIN WHEN YOU TELL HOW YOUR BODY FEELS.

[arznboy]

Hi WINGSOFANGEL, which doctor did you see to help you remove the maxillary cyst? I am experiencing the same thing for past 15 years and all doctors say it's nothing and they refused to remove the cyst for me.

[KoalaMere]

I am scheduled for a root canal in a few days to repair the cracked tooth.    After that, a crown will be put on to protect the tooth.    Thank you again for all of your input.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Good to see the root cause for your symptoms was detected. Infected tooth roots from the upper teeth can go inside the maxillary sinus and cause sinusitis. As you have an infected tooth, you will still need to have this addressed as dental infections can be potentially life-threatening. Good luck.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament.
But it’s unlikely that the cyst can cause compressive symptoms on the teeth. Maxillary sinusitis can cause referred pain to the teeth and vice versa. If it is a chronic sinus infection, 4-6 weeks of antibiotics are pretty standard in addition to nasal steroid sprays, oral steroids, and salt water irrigations of the sinuses.  If this fails to solve the problem, sinus surgery is usually recommended.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.