dental work

[tania again, add to question]

can dental work gone wrong (example a dentist has extreme trouble with a tooth, tooth breaks & he hits the nerve, etc.) affect nerves all over the body or does it just affect the mouth area?  can the nerves in the mouth, if irritated or destroyed,  cause peripheral neuropathy all over the body?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Sue:

The simple answer to your question is no.  The pain may feel horrible and throbbing but it is located to the nerve from the tooth, and may also affect the nerve from the spinal cord out to the nerve to that tooth.  The only way this may cause a generalized neuropathy is if it sets off an autoimmune reaction to a particular antigen in the gums or gets infection and the infectious agent has an antigen that is identical to a protein on a periperal nerve that is also found on all periperal nerves of sensation.  This is possible but you would stand a better chance in winning the lottery twice.  It would be almost impossible to occur.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Mike]

CCF.....Is this why the mercury filling theory really is without much merit? Similar type of situation.....What's your thoughts as a Neuro on this.My neuro, dentist,etc. say no way to fillings and neuro problems,etc...Thank You.

Mike

[tania again, add to question]

good question by mike.  is the mercury filling without merit?