Trigeminal Neuralgia and bacteria infection in the root
Q. After having a root canal filling my tooth didn’t settle and I had to go back for a second time. Not long after I started having severe pain when pressure was put on the tooth.I had several visits to the dentist for a period of 2 years following this each time the dentist unable to find anything wrong. I developed severe pain in my face and on a visit to the doctor was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. That was now 4 years ago! On a recent visit to my dentist I mentioned to him that I felt the tooth still was causing me discomfort at times so he xrayed it. There seems to be a pocket of bacteria at one the roots of the tooth. He suggested having the tooth removed. My question is that if the bacteria has been there after all these years is it safe to remove the tooth and will i need anibotics after? Also do you think this may have been the cause of my trigeminal Neuralgia?
A. It is safe to remove the tooth and will help by allow the infection to “drain” without the need for antibiotics. Regarding the neuralgia it would be interesting to know how that responded to treatment such as medication before judging.
Can a root canal be the possible cause of my trigeminal neuralgia? I did NOT have this before I had the root canal in September and have been through the sinus exams, the ENT, back to the dentist several times, and then finally to a neurologist. I’m going to be on anti-seizure medicine for the rest of my life. The pain is so severe that nothing except opiates help.
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