Problem with my tooth...?!

Problem with my tooth...?

Alright, heres the deal: About two years ago I had a root canal on one of my back teeth. It got infected and I had to have some surgery. I got the old root canal fixed - everything they put in my tooth was replaced after the infection. Then, about a year ago the filling in that tooth fell out along with a piece of my tooth. i couldn't go to the dentist because I was pregnant. Now, I keep pulling out little pieces of what looks like string. What the hell are those little string lol? Are they the plastic stuff they put in the root canal during a root canal procedure? And finally, how do I get it fixed? Thanks in advance! :-]

It could of been a temporary filling with temporary packing inside the tooth--- This is only a guess--- I am making assumptions based on what you are sharing here.

When they complete a root canal they can fill it temporarily with a cotton material (sometimes stringy packing) and unfortunately-- all of the investment that you spent on the original root canal may become jeopardized if you do not return to a dentist that can help you complete the surgery.

The steps involved in completing a root canal are:
1. Remove the infection by removing the blood supply (blood vessels) from inside the tooth.
2. Dissenfect the inside of the tooth roots
3. Fill the tooth roots with a permanent rubbery material and Post and core build up
4. *Crown the tooth---sometimes provide a final filling where they drilled into the tooth to clean out the canals.

Sounds like you did not go through all of these steps and will need a follow up visit as soon as possible as your tooth has lost it's temporary filling and is now falling apart---the tooth is dry, brittle and will continue to chip and sometimes with acidic diets even dissolve away-- as it no longer has moisture (blood supply) due to the root canals being removed and treated (that was the root canal portion of your surgery). The openings also leave you vunerable to continual deterioration.

Hope your pregnancy went well--- and you are able to get to a dental appointment soon to save your tooth and all the money spent up to now on this tooth.

Try to rinse your mouth out with warm salt water-- or 3 % hydrogen peroxide-- brush and floss regularly to keep the area as clean as possible.

Good Luck---You'll know more about the situation once you return to a good dentist that can show you with a video camera what is going on in that tooth and is able to treat the tooth. Hopefully it will be treatable---They'll let you know that too---if it is salvagable or it if will need to be extracted.

Sincerely, Tina