Dental Problems Bringing On Sjogren's Syndrome
We all know that the dry mouth of Sjogren's syndrome can have a devastating effect on teeth. But have any of us had experience of dental problems bringing on SS?
I've been doing a lot of reading lately on the question of root canal procedures bringing on degenerative diseases and even breast cancer(!) I'm sure most people on here already know the theory behind this but I'll re-state a simplified version anyway. The idea is that it's impossible to sterilise the dead cavity left behind after the nerve is removed, and once it's sealed with a crown, anaerobic bacteria start growing in there, and migrate to the bloodstream.
Now, I had a badly botched root canal on a molar in my lower jaw in 1995, and that was the year my SS symptoms started. I never ceased to have problems with the tooth after that, culminating in a nasty abscess in 2007. I ended up as an emergency in maxillo-facial outpatients over that one. The surgeon who finally removed the tooth and scraped away the infected bone confirmed what I'd long suspected - that the tooth had been broken through the root either before, or during the process of, the root canal. Needless to say, I changed dentists after that.
Later that year, my SS started the slow process of going into a remission that was more or less complete two years later and lasted about six years after that. I'm just recovering now from the first flare-up since then, which has lasted nearly a year. However, this flare-up hasn't been nearly as bad as the original attack of SS. It's tempting to make a connection with the root canal.
However... I'm not totally convinced that that's the whole story. I suspect my SS is secondary (though that's never been confirmed by a doctor) as I had a very severe attack of RA in my mid-30s, 15 years before my first SS symptoms. This came out of the blue, and was seriously disabling while it lasted. It started suddenly in my right hip while I was out walking one day, and within a few weeks had spread to both hips, knees, big toes and hands. For a couple of weeks I could barely get out of bed, and had to be signed off work. I had the great good fortune to be put in touch with a homeopathic rheumatologist (who was a medical doctor too) who cured me with homeopathic remedies and dietary advice. I continue to have occasional problems with my joints, but nothing like that first attack.
But that may also have been tooth-related, albeit not root canal. Six years before the RA attack, and just before I left the UK for good, I had a small filling in an upper molar. I was in severe discomfort afterwards, and could feel a lump on the outside of my gum, just above the tooth, which was clearly a piece of filling that had been shoved up between the tooth and the gum. (I'm afraid I don't seem to be very good at picking dentists!) I went back repeatedly, only to be fobbed off each time, and after a couple of months a large piece of filling duly worked its own way out.
The same year the RA struck, I had the first attack of pain in the badly filled tooth. For the next 10 years I had intermittent attacks of severe toothache and mild sinusitis. I saw five dentists in two different countries during that time, all of whom X-rayed the tooth and could find nothing wrong. Finally, after a severe attack of sinusitis on that side (fever, swollen face, one eye closed, foul-smelling nasal discharge) my doctor referred me to the hospital, where it was discovered that there was a hidden infection in the inside root of the tooth, which isn't visible on a normal X-ray. The tooth was extracted, with great difficulty as it had become ankylosed into the socket by the infection, and a deep curettage of the infected bone performed. I was told I was very lucky the infection hadn't broken through the bone into the maxillary sinus.
Not sure what to deduce from all this - apart from the fact that rubbish dentists exist on both sides of the Channel! - but it's tempting to suspect that most of my auto-immune troubles might have originated in my teeth.
Dental Health :: Need Implants But No Space Between Top And Bottom Teeth
I am a young adult and I have huge problems with my teeth now after several years of not having medical coverage and extreme fear of dentists. pretty much all my molars are gone and need to be extracted, but on top of that, I may not even be able to get implants or partials because I have an even bigger issue with my bite.I went to a prosthodontist who told me that there isn't enough space between the top and bottom teeth to put anything there like an implant or even dentures and this is absolutely terrifying. He basically told me that he couldn't help me because he "limits his practice to crowns and bridges" so he told me to go back to my general dentist to ask what they can do with my bite. In the end of the day I didn't get anything out of that visit besides horrific news so my question right now is, can it be possible that I can't even get partials because of my bite? what exactly can be done about this? at the moment I have severe anxiety and fear so I can't sleep or even think because of the news that I got and I'm desperate for some good news. Can anyone please help me understand how I can be treated so i could AT LEAST get dentures if not implants?
View 4 RepliesDental Abscess :: Adjacent Tooth Decay Caused By Wisdom Tooth
If you check the x ray (where i circled in red), I have a tooth decay because of wisdom teeth coming close to my last tooth. My options are to do a root canal on the decayed tooth and eventually get the wisdom tooth removed OR get the decayed tooth removed and let the wisdom teeth occupy its place.
And my wisdom teeth is partially erupted, so it is not out fully.
I have asked around for a few suggestions and everyone is suggesting to go for option 2 which is removed the decayed tooth and let wisdom tooth partially take its place.
Can anyone suggest if that is a good option. As you can see all my teeth are healthy and I just had bad luck with the wisdom tooth coming at an angle!
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome :: POTS With Sjogren's Syndrome
I have Primary Sjogren's Syndrome but was born Hypermobile. It was only after my present Rheumatologist diagnosed that I have scoliosis that I started to research. I found the Beighton Scale and the Brighton criteria which I match completely. I explained my research to my consultant and she agrees. However while she and another consultant both agree I do have POTS so far I don't have an appointment to see anyone to help me. I have had ECGS and a bubble ECG but they have been taken while lying down. Now the POTS I really noticed post the birth of my last son 29 years ago is getting much worse, can anyone advise me as it has taken decades to get this far, I don't feel time is on my side
View 4 RepliesSjogren's Syndrome :: (sicca) Syndrome And Dry Eyes
Having been officially diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome about a year ago, I think back on ALL the diagnoses I have had related to it: "nutcracker esophagus and severe GERD", "esophageal spasms", polyarthritis, fibrotic lymph nodes, fibromyalgia, Prinzmetal angina, benign parotid tumor excision (trabecular adenoma), dry skin, dry mucous membranes, etc. and now know they are all part of the same syndrome, which has been steadily worsening and becoming more malignant (and I am only sixty). There are many other more serious difficulties, but now I'm wondering if I, too, will get non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, since that is what some people progress into. It is NOT that this frightens me at all--but now there is something of which to be aware (and I'm not certain my M.D. knows of this). I also have glaucoma and cataracts--so I really have to protect my eyes (and I have had a vitreous bleed into one of them).
My ophthalmologist (a retinologist) placed upper and lower tear duct plugs in my eyes--which has helped, but I still have to use lubrication. Since I am a writer and use the computer extensively, I find it quite hard on the dry eyes. I am extremely careful to drink lots of water and often mix pure fruit juice with my water to avoid calories (sugar) and to make the water more interesting. This does, however, exacerbate my stress incontinence gained after fracturing my back--for which I stay close to a toilet (but my writing is done at home.)
Dental Health :: Gum Inflammation Around Tooth
I am 33-year old healthy woman with an extreme fear of the dentist. A few months ago, I had a horrible toothache that resulted in a root canal and crown. I have a temporary crown right now and go in for my permanent crown tomorrow. About a week ago, I started having some pain on the side that I have had a root canal on and have a temporary crown. My dentist was on vacation, but I was able to get in with another area dentist. He said he saw nothing wrong other than possibly cement or something stuck between my crown and gums. He removed whatever it was he saw. That was over a week ago. Yesterday, my gums on the inside of my teeth (not the cheek side) felt like I had burned the roof of my mouth. I tried to look with a mirror and the gums around the tooth in front of the crown look red. They are a tiny bit sore and seemed to get irritated if I eat anything salty of drink anything carbonated. I flossed and rinsed with mouthwash. I had my husband look and he said the gums are not swollen and there is no pimple like sore. He said the gums are just red. I am in complete freak-out mode. If I had an abscess, wouldn't things be getting worse instead of better?
View 1 RepliesDental Health :: Possible To Straighten Just One Tooth
My teeth aren't perfect... They're far from perfect. Grew up poor and family couldn't afford braces... Now that I'm older I still can't afford them..
Anyway my biggest insecurity is one of my front teeth.. I have a gap in my front teeth... The gap never bothered me.. But one of my front teeth has always bugged me.. this tooth tilts to the left about 15 degrees. It's flaws are noticeable... My smile would be 300x better if that tooth was just straight.
Is it possible to straighten the one tooth?
About how much will it cost?
Dental Abscess :: Tooth Removal?
I'm in head splitting agony with an abscess on my back tooth. went to dentist today and she told me I have to have to badly abscess teeth out. Was then given antibiotics and told to keep taking nurofen and paracetamol which do nothing. Why couldn't they do it now ? I won't be able to take the pain much longer.
View 8 RepliesDental Health :: Wisdom Tooth At Age 48
At age 48 i had a root canal done my bottom right molar, with a filling. The filling never felt quite right even though the dentist tried to correct it. My bite changed and I began feeling the breakthrough of my first and only wisdom tooth on the top right side. Over the last several years(now age 51) these two things have caused my teeth to shift and i now have a gap in the front. is it appropriate to have the wisdom tooth removed(it have out) and get braces?
View 1 RepliesDental Abscess On My Tooth Second Time In 6 Months
I'm 20 years old, I suffered an abscess In October last year, it was the most painful experience of my life, I finally got a root canal in my tooth and I thought that was it all done, it's flared up again the other day started throbbing I knew straight away what it was, I went to the dentist today they took an x Ray and he even said it looked like it did before I had my last root canal, so was again infected, I've been put on antibiotics again until Tuesday but if it's not better I'm being referred to a Leeds specialist, can anyone tell me why it's come back so soon? I'm scared I suffered from this once before years again on the other side. What will happen now? I never want another one again and just want it sorted once and for all.
View 1 RepliesDental Health :: Sensitive Tooth, Abscess
Recently, I visited a dentist , and my teeth were cleaned. I was asked to be repeating that every six month. However, after the visit, a tooth became very sensitive to anything that touches it, whether hot or cold, or even ordinary water, a kind of pain sends me jumping.
I went back to the Dentist and he directed for an X-ray on the affected tooth. The X-ray showed a hole in between the teeth(an abscess). Some drugs were given to me( Amoxicillin 500mg; Flagyl 400mg; Cata? 50mg) which I have taken for some days. The pains are still there, and the dentist says the tooth will have to be removed, which I do not like at all! Instead, I have decided to to start brushing my teeth twice a day using Sensodyne toothpaste, and Listerine Mouthwash, twice a day. Doctor, will the alternative procedure that I have prescribed for myself eventually save me from the removal of the tooth, which I very much detest?
Dental :: Broken Wisdom Tooth By Trauma
Last sunday, i broke the back wisdom tooth on the upper jaw caused by trauma to the face, I went to an emergency dentist that night and had my tooth repaired ( required a big filling as most of my tooth broke off and was very close to exposing the nerve) the dentist prescribed me with painkillers and antibiotics to prevent a possible infection. I'm still in quite a bit of pain, the pain is a sharp shooting pain that's going into my ear, temple and down the side of my neck. I've been taking the pain relief and applying ice to my face but the pain has not improved. I'm going crazy from the pain, what should i do?
View 2 RepliesOral And Dental :: Gum Growing Over Wisdom Tooth?
So on my back right wisdom tooth, furthest one back, the gum is visibly moving over the wisdom tooth. I've had this before quite mildly, but at the moment I appear to have irritated it further and so now every jaw movement I can feel the tooth scratching the gum which causes pain.
I'm not sure what to do about it, my electrical toothbrush in that area obviously irritates it so thinking I should avoid touching it at all for now, is this just swelling or inflammation which will go down eventually? Anything I can do to speed it up or soothe, a particular mouthwash or a DIY remedy?
Pregnancy :: Abscessed Tooth - Dental Work - 1st Trimester
I have an abscessed tooth. :( hurts so bad i just want it gone. If i cant get my mouth numbed tho i don't want any work done (heard u can get work done after your 1st trimester. Best to do in your second) but will they be able to numb my mouth?? I heard that medicine can cross the placenta. Anyone had work done ??
View 6 RepliesDental :: Swollen Tonsil With A Black Dot On It - Wisdom Tooth?
Hey, I just want to make sure that I don't freak out about this. But I have a swollen Tonsil for some months now and there is also a black dot on it.
Is this a normal reaction because my wisdom tooth is coming out?
Dental Health :: Face Swelling Due To Abscessed Tooth
At the start of 2012 a week before school started I began getting a shooting pain in what felt like in my gums and right in between my teeth. I endured almost sleepless nights of drooling because the pain was so much that I wouldn't dare move my face. I couldn't eat either, over the counter medicines didnt work. My face then began to start swelling. It was the right side. Parents finally took me to the dentist. Did some tests determined had some sort of infection in the tooth. They did a root canal and the guy cleaned out the inside of the tooth the best he could with antibiotics they said. After that they gave me some more antibiotics to take for about a week or a little more after. Majority of swelling went down. Even after all that and now years later I'm trying to figure out if I still have swelling in my right side from this infection. I heard the infection in these cases usually still resides or even grows if not fully eliminated. I will write three scenarios that raise my suspicion for this all occurring some time after this previous story. I started getting bad acne, the right side of my face looked like it was swelling according to my mother to where she was getting concerned (i was also slightly aware of this). They put me in some sort of antibiotics for all round body that must have been related to treating acne infections. During this time I do remember a short period of time a few weeks into treatment where swelling subsided so I stopped taking meds again. Another later occasion I and my brother were arguing and he called me out making fun of my right side being "swollen". This raised insecurities and I later asked him you think my face is uneven like that? He told me truthfully that my right side has gotten fatter and been that way ever since I got that infection in the tooth.
So I guess what I'm asking is that is the infection from the tooth abscess continuing to cause some recurring swelling in my right side? Are there any tests to determine this? Do you think I should try taking the same antibiotic I did when I had acne and see if any swelling goes down again?
Dental Health :: Pink Red Lump By The Base Of Tooth
I have this lump on my gum right by the base of the tooth where it goes into the gum. It does not hurt at all it was bigger at first but now is smaller but sometimes it pusses never randomly bleeds unless it pusses first. Now this too the is right beside two teeth that I got pulled because of an infection. Its the same color as my gums a pink red. If I knew how to post a picture I would do so its not very big at all and like o said its gone down in size but now it seems to be remaining this size its been on my gum for maybe 2 weeks.
View 1 RepliesDental Health :: White Spot - Decaying Tooth
When i last went to dentist to get my decaying tooth out, they pulled the wrong one out and recently i have had a white spot next to the tooth.. which i popped today....
View 2 RepliesOral And Dental :: Tooth Gaps And Bad Gums That Bleed
I have very bad teeth with many gaps and bad gums that bleed when pressed with a moderate amount of pressure. http://m.imgur.com/x9yG8yk How should I fix them. I was thinking of improving my gums then replacing the top 4 with partial dentures.
View 1 Replies