Dear Sir/Madam!
I have already written to you about problems with my second molar and gum recession. Two months ago I had a panoramic X-ray taken because I wanted a more detailed image, and then because of pain (one month ago) I had to go to my dentist. He found that the roots of the previously extracted wisdom tooth (they had been right next to the second molar) had caused major damage to the root of the second molar. He cleaned the plaque and coated the tooth with some special varnish. He said the problems would recur but would get better each time, yet I had to return after only a few days because of pain. He opened the tooth and said I had a granuloma; the root was no longer there. I did not want him to extract it, so he cleaned the tooth and placed medication inside. If at the next visit the tooth is not all right, or if saliva gets into it when he opens it, he will extract it. A month has passed since then and the tooth has started hurting again.
I would like to know why there is pain if the root is dead, and how the tooth can be cured so that it does not have to be extracted. If the tooth is not properly cleaned, can a granuloma also develop in the neighbouring tooth? Why does a granuloma develop and how dangerous is it?
Thank you very much in advance for your answers!
Dentist Tomaž Rotar answers:
Dear Sir/Madam!
Because of the pain, your dentist suggested and performed the only possible solution: the tooth was devitalized, meaning the pulp chamber and root canals were cleaned of soft tissue (pulp). Medication was placed in the root canals (an agent for sterilizing the root canals). Despite this, the tooth may still remain painful; sometimes the symptoms are even much worse than before the procedure. If such problems occur, we usually replace the medicated dressing with the same or a different dressing. The appearance of a granuloma beneath a non-vital tooth is a common complication of the underlying pathology. After successful root canal treatment, the granuloma should also disappear or at least become smaller. Disease processes in one tooth usually have no consequences for a neighbouring tooth. If root canal treatment is unsuccessful, the tooth must of course be extracted.
Have a nice day!