0T, big dental dilemma | Arthritis Information

I went to the dentist in January, needing 2 crowns because of chipped teeth. The dentist said I wouldn't need root canals.

I started to have pain in the tooth that had been prepared for a crown and was told I needed a root canal.

I was kind of okay with that.

A couple of weeks later I was at a restaurant and an entire tooth fractured almost up to the gum.

It is in front, slightly off to the side.

Now I needed another root canal and a post and core, with no guarantee this tooth will last more thab 5 or 10 years.

Im a little overwhelmed. I initially need 2 crowns, since going to the dentist I now need 3 crowns, 2 root camals and a post and core. Some of this work I've had done already.

I can't imagine what's ging on. It's been attributed to old age, I'm 57.

I get regular cleanings and I wonder why nothing showed up on the X-Rays.

I also have what may be a stupid question, when I had the impressions made for the first tooth the material got really hard and she had to really yank to get the stuff off. I wonder if that could have weakened the tooth that later fractured.

My husband thinks that's ridiculous He never heard of anyone losing a tooth because of dental impressions.

I've never had any trouble with my dentist before and I would much rather chalk it up to coincidence than think there was some kind of error.

Would apreciate any opinion as this whole situation is really bugging me!

Dotty

Coincidence probably - but we with RA have more tooth problems in general.

Hugs,

Pip

Dotty, in my much, much, much (did I mention much) younger days, I was a dental tech (jack of all trades type of person) to a periodontist and an oral surgeon. It really is doubtful that type of damage would have been done due to the dental impression, but instead, more likely the damage was already there. It is possible the impression hastened the demise of the tooth, but you probably would have known if it was fractured during the procedure. Of course, I am not a dentist and that is the one who could tell you what likely happened.

57 old? PFFFFT! Never say it is so! It's funny you should mention dental work. I broke my tooth last week eating raisin bran. it hung on for most of the day and while eating a tuna sandwich half my tooth fell out of my mouth. so need to get to a dentist.

one year I went to the dentist and every thing was fine, he xrayed examine. later that year he found many cavities as if they appeared over night. he blamed it on the person who originally did my exam. either way we are at their mercy when it comes to our teeth. It could be getting older has taken a toll but 57 isn't old to me. I think its the RA and it medications like prednisone weakening the teeth. Either way, you can always get a second opinion.

wishing the best outcome for you. take care.

edited for wrong word use.

Shelly632009-03-02 12:55:13Thank-you so much for your replies, I really want to lean toward coincidence!Dotty, I'm going through a dental nightmare myself and I blame it on Humira. Prior to starting Humira I had my usual dental check up and cleaning every 6 months and never had any problems. After starting Humira I've had to have one quadrant root planed every 3 months. A month ago I went to the dentist because I had a sensitive tooth and I had an abcess. The speicalist is only in La Penita every 2 weeks so I had to wait for a root canal. Had it done 2 weeks ago and was on antibiotics for 2 weeks, no MXT or Humira in over a month. I have the post placed this Friday and hopefully I can take my meds then.

I'm on several forums and am a moderator for a chronic illness group and I believe that the immune suppresant drugs cause dental problems. Many of the forum members have dental issues. RA itself can cause dental issues and when you couple that with the meds it's a perfect environment for problems to occur. I went from having only 2 fillings and good dental care to an abcess that's resistent to antibiotics and a root canal. My last check up and cleaning in October was normal.

It's possible that the impression aggravated the problem. It would have happened sooner or later. Take care and I understand what you're going through. Lindy

Something to think about, but it seems that just about every time I have a crown done I end up needing a root canal in that tooth.

Something about having that crown done does it to me every time!

Maybe that is what you are experiencing also (?)

I am not sure it is the RA. I am having a problem too. I had to have a tooth pulled that had been crowned twice, had crown lengthening once and now needed a root canal. Could not complete the root canal cause there was a vertical fracture and would not support a crown. Now I am gettng an implant--what a procedure! Anyway, I have heard around work tons of people talking about dental problems-and they don't have RA. And what I have heard--many are much worse than anything I am going through. Now if you are taking Fosamax--I am sure it is the reason. Thanks a lot for sharing yoir problems with me. It makes me feel better to know that I'm not the only one experiencing these things. I took fosamax fairly briefly nd stopped some time ago. Again thanks for sharing.I'm having a lot of tooth trouble too as well as a riproaring case of thrush.

Because of the sjogren's I have dry mouth and my enamel is disapearing.

I just lost half a tooth and cant wear my br\idge because the tooth it hooks onto is painful..

I'm going to the dentist next week.. YAYY

Talk to your dentist. Tell him your concerns. I am sorry you are having problems and it seem to have come in three's. My DH is a dentist, I have never heard of teeth becoming loose because of an impression in my DH practice. I have listened to him say that it is not uncommon for more than one problem to be going on at the same time. Like people find they have several cavities at once. I do not know if this is your case at all. The only advice I have is talk to your dentist , tell him what you are thinking, ask him to give you an explanation. If you are not satisfied get a second opinion.

My guess is that initially you had no pain, so no root canal necessary at that time. Between you and me, I hate going to the dentist.

Sorry your having such trouble...Oh yeah one more thing, 57 is YOUNG...

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