May 25th 2009 | Arthritis Information

Well in a few mins I have to go to the dentist. Looks like a root canal in the near future...like possibly this Thursday. They want to take a look at it today though..probably to see if there's any infection. Oh I hate going to the dentist, but I know it needs to be done.

One good thing though is I have the week off...My daughter-in-law has the week off so no babysitting Bailey this week. I love her, but oh man it takes a lot out of me.

What's everyone else up to today?

Doing laundry, getting ready to go to a Memorial Day parade with the boys, then it's off to Dad's house to tend to my stepmom. One of her sons will be in town later this week so we'll be able to divide the duties, at least for a while! We're having a quiet day, bbqing later today. Sent out Memorial Day cards to people early this morning.

Kelstev, I just went through my dental nightmare and here's hugs for you. I just had my tooth that was root canaled in Feb. extracted a couple of days ago. I developed an infection that didn't respond to antibiotics. I don't know if you're on dmards or biologics but call your RD and you probably should stop them until the dental work is completed. I've been off my meds since Feb. Hopefully, you won't have an infection. I had the worst case possible and initially a bad dentist. Take care. Let us know how you're doing. Lindy

Thanks, LinB...I take mtx,sulfasalazine and plaquenil, and nothing was said to me about stopping any of them before the root canal. They know what meds I take...maybe I should call my RD. Thanks for suggesting that I call..I don't think I would have thought about it.

So I went to the dentist and was told that yes I need a root canal or extraction. I've decided to go with the root canal. But now the dentist is telling me that there is calcium in the root canal and he might not be able to complete the job so he's leaving it up to me if I'd rather see a specialist than have him try it only to have the specialist finish it up if he has problems with it. Apparently it makes it difficult to see where he's going or something like that because the space is smaller with the calcium there. So...long story short I'm waiting now to hear from the specialist to see when my app't will be.

I asked would it be ok if I took some lorazepam before my app't (I'm a big baby) and he said that was fine. Not looking forward to this.

DH and I are doing a little BBQ for two, if you don't count the cats. Memorial Day with just the two of us is fine by me. I don't go for "Memorial Day Sale!" kind of stuff, it has always been a day for remembrance for me. It has always been hard on my family.

Thank-you to all who have served and to families who have sacrificed.
Kel, I'm glad you're going to the specialist. I'm curious why the root canal? The specialist will be able to tell you more. Did you have a root canal before to that tooth? It's not fun ad yes, I took tranquilizers before I went for the extraction. Actually, the extraction was a breeze. Lindy _popupControl(); Sounds like what I recently went though. I did have an infection in the root and that is usually why they say you need root canal. I asked about stoping my RA drugs and they all said it was better not to mess with stopping the meds and it kinda happened so fast that it was between doses anyway. However the root canal could not be completed and I went to another speicalist who extracted the tooth and prepared it for an implant. They gave me an antibotic and I responded well to it.

The specialists were fantastic (but expensive) and they did a lot of followup . I hated doing all of this but I really did not feel any pain and I am a baby about pain. Well good luck. I discussed with the RA dr. afterwards and seemed fine with it. [QUOTE=kelstev]Thanks, LinB...I take mtx,sulfasalazine and plaquenil, and nothing was said to me about stopping any of them before the root canal. [/QUOTE]

I had a bone graft and dental implant about a year and a half ago when I was on MTX and Plaquenil. I didn't have to stop either one and I didn't have any problems after.

Good luck with the root canal. I had one done about 20 years ago. I'm sure things have changed by now, but all I remember is that it seemed I was in the chair a long time.

[QUOTE=LinB]Kel, I'm glad you're going to the specialist. I'm curious why the root canal? The specialist will be able to tell you more. Did you have a root canal before to that tooth? It's not fun ad yes, I took tranquilizers before I went for the extraction. Actually, the extraction was a breeze. Lindy[/QUOTE]

The tooth had a filling in it but recently parts of the filling were coming out. Apparently another cavity started up in the tooth which was causing problems with the filling. I made an app't to get a filling put back in, but then I had an abscess and so now the only option is the root canal or extraction.

The weird part is that the abscess appeared after I completed a round of antibiotics (I had gone in to see my family doctor due to pain surrounding the tooth and didn't want to be hurting during my daughter's wedding, so he prescribed the antibiotics)

or maybe it's not that weird...I dunno.

Thanks Kweenb.

Catnip2...Why couldn't the root canal be completed?

Kelstev, I had an abcess also and like I said before it didn't respond to antibiotics. It sounds like your infection hasn't responded. To date I've been on antib. 47 days our of 120 days and am now responding after another round of Ampicillin and extraction. I've always been told that if you have an infection and on antibiotics to stop dmards and biologics. They suppress your immune system each time you take them, consequently the infection lingers and the antibiotic doesn't fully work. My RD and primary said I have to stay off my RA meds until the infection has cleared. I guess some people can take their meds and do ok, but in my case it didn't work out like that. I think it's a chance you take. A gum abcess is difficult to clear in the best of circumstances. Lindyroot canals- hate them! I'll be sure to talk with my RD once I know what's going to be done...since I'm not on antibiotics now I suppose there's no reason to call. Wish I had thought to call when I was on the antibiotic...maybe that's why I'm still having pain....the infection's still there.
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