Any1 had a bit of root left in after extractions???

[lu lu]

I had my last lot of extractions today & 1 of my teeth broke & there's a bit of root left inside my gum that he can't get out.

His taken a photo & is going to send it to my ortho to see if it's going to get in the way or if it can be left in there. If it needs to come out then I'm going to have to have my gum cut open to get it out.

I didn't think they could leave any of the root in????????

I asked the question & he said anything under 3mm is fine to leave in.

I'm so worried ....... What if its left in & later on when my teeth are beautifully straight it causes problems & needs to come out. Means I'll have to loose another healthy tooth just to get to it & I can't afford to loose anymore teeth. Plus it means I'll have spent all this money for nothing.

Has this happened to anyone else & if so did they leave the bit of root in?

Any problems occur?

HELP PLEASE SO WORRIED!!!!!

[ArmyMedic68]

Hi lu lu

The same thing happened to me 3 days ago. I got braced 9 Nov, 2010. My Ortho asked for extractions of both maxillary bicuspids asap. He wrote a referral and I was able to get it done the following day. A root tip broke off from tooth #5, it had a bifurcated root. He couldn't remove it with forceps, so he drilled it out with a surgical bur, and then smoothed out the surrounding alveolar with a bone file. I watched the whole procedure it was very interested to see exactly what tools were used! I'm not familiar with dental surgery so it was interesting to watch. The surgical bur was similar to one used in orthopedics to smooth out bone spurs and such. Anyway I didn't ask the dentist many questions as I was kind of zonked out from the Novocaine lol. I think the technical name in dentistry for the procedure of smoothing out bone is Alveoplasty. In my case I think the dentist opted to smooth out both alveolar ridges "bone surrounding the tooth socket" to give better symmetry to my maxillary arch. Better symmetry of the alveolar may provide a better aesthetic result when my maxillary arch is brought from a class 2 into a class 1 occlusion. I'm hoping that's the case anyway:) It may be a good Idea to ask your dentist for a detailed explanation of his reasoning for leaving the root tips in. He may have a solid reason for doing so but it is better to be informed then unaware. You also might want to get a second opinion from another dentist as well. Best wishes!

[lu lu]

Thanks for the reply

I really don't know what to do. I'm seeing my ortho next week to have my wire fitted on my lingual brace so i'm going to ask him what he thinks then and he should of hopefully been sent the photo of it by then too. Worried it might delay the procedure if I have to have it removed as I wouldn't think there would be much point putting the wire on until after i've had my gum cut open.

So annoyed I wanted it all on before the end of the year so I could get on my way but guess that might not happen now.

If I got a second opinion from another dentist I imagine i'd have to pay for this right? Can I just ring anyone up? Do you think they'd have to take another photo too or could I ask for the 1 my dentist took? Sorry new to all this

x

[ArmyMedic68]

Hi lu lu

Your ortho might put the arch wire in even if he say's you need the root tip removed, he could end the arch wire before that tooth if need be. That's what happened to me anyway. My ortho told me I needed extractions, but I got braced the following week after someone else canceled. I was braced before my dentist received the extraction order. I was bummed out that I couldn't get the extractions done beforehand, but my ortho put the arch wire and ended the wire before the bicuspids to be extracted. I got a referral to get the extractions done, but I still have to wait until my next adjustment to get my arch wire placed all the way across. Your ortho will be the best judge as to whether or not the root tip needs to go. If you get a consult from another general dentist it could cost money depending on what your insurance will cover. If your ortho tells you the root tip need's to be removed but your dentist still disagrees, then you may want to get a second opinion. You can get dental record copies from your dentist. As for phone consults, it's unlikely any dentist will give you a consult over the phone, even if you have your records faxed there. they will need to do an in person exam to give you an accurate assessment. They may do a bit wing x-ray in order to see the exact placement of the root tip, if you don't have an up to date x-ray on hand. It's good your looking to find a answer to a potential problem sooner then later. I'm sure things will become a lot clearer after your next ortho appointment.

best wishes

[Emmauk]

What a pain.... I cant offer any help as i dont know but i would think your ortho and dentist will come up with something. I know its a real pain but it might be worth getting it out now as like you say in 2 years time when your done and dusted its the last thing you would want to go through. I have heard of it before with no other problems but each case will be different dependent on size and exact location.

I think your making the right choice now by looking into it thoroughly it would be easy to brush over it and carry on with the brace but possibly regret it leter on.

Hope you get some good news soon, when do you next go in to see him?

[lu lu]

Thanks for the replies both

Emma I see my ortho on tues. So will speak to him about it then I think

X

[Ionika]

i've had a bit of root comming out by itself 6 months after extraction..so i guess
nature helps...

[lu lu]

i've had a bit of root comming out by itself 6 months after extraction..so i guess
nature helps...

So you had a bit left in then? Did you know this? Did they say it was ok to leave it in?

Your uppers or lowers?

I'm really worried to have it left in just incase it starts moving once my teeth have moved over which I guess could happen especially if yours started coming out by it's self.

[Ionika]

i didnt even know its there and they cant know either..
only if its broken off the tooth they know but if it has broken off your jaw....
no harm done..it just flushes itself out..

[TWild]

This happened to me. I was worried about it, but they said not to. A couple of weeks later it surfaced and my orthodontist simply pulled the piece out. It bled a bit, but was painless!