QuestionRobert,
On Thursday last week (today is the following Saturday) I went to an Endodontist for a "routine" route canal on tooth #28 or 29.
From the beginning, the doctor was having difficulty finding the "canal" and was apparently making his own which, after it was too late, he realized was paralleling the real canal.
After beginning the procedure, the doctor was having difficulty breaking through a calcium deposit about half way down the root. He tried unsuccessfully to break through the deposit, and ended up perforating my tooth. He did not realize this and drenched my mouth with hydrogen-something (he referred to it as "bleach"). When this substance hit the side of my mouth he was working on, the whole side of my face, especially my right chin area - the area he was working on - felt as though he had put acetone in an open wound - like when I get nail polish remover in a cut.
He ended up sealing the perforartion, gave me a temporary filling and sent me home. He did show some concern and gave me his cell phone number in case I needed to get ahold of him over the weekend since he was going out of town.
Throughout this procedure (which took two hours) I received three novocane shots and 11 x-rays. I realize that that alone, not to mention all the clips and equipment he had in my mouth may have caused a certain amount of trauma.
Since then, there has been massive swelling - as if I had half a grapefruit under my cheek and numbness from my lower right lip to the bottom of my chin in about a 1/2 inch column. The swelling in my cheek has now gone down to barely noticeable, however, the numbness and swelling in my lip has not. I can smile but my lip does not move.
Over the last two days, as the swelling is diminishing in the general cheek area, I can more narrowly define the area that is numb (see previous paragraph) and it SEEMS to respond somewhat (with a slight tingling) and only for a few minutes to a heated infrared massager. I can drink with a straw and can somewhat whistle.
I am on the following medications due to this procedure: Motrin 800 mg (one pill twice a day - 24 pills total); Hydrocodone/APAP 7.5-750 (one pill every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain - 10 pills total); Augmentin 875 mg (one pill twice daily - 20); and Dexamethasone 4 mg (one tabs once daily for 3 days/one tab once daily for 3 days/1/2 tab once daily for 3 days - 10.5 pills).
My concern is the regaining of normalcy to the area of my chin and lip that are numb. Can you give me any insight as to whether or not the nerve may be damaged (and what nerve it might be)and to what extent, and possible solutions? I would also appreciate any other advice as far as where I might find additional information or sources on pertaining to this type of problem.
Thanks for your time. I anxiously await your answer.
Shirley
AnswerWow, that sounded like a terrible experience for both you and the oral surgeon. I have had difficult cases, and they upset me as much as the patient. I suspect that you will return to normal as the nerve and other tissues heal. I think the medicine regiment sounds "appropriately aggressive" meaning that the doctor seems to be doing everything they can to get you healed. I think only time will tell and let the healing process continue. I don't have any specific websites that will answer the questions you are asking. The treatment, prognosis, etc., comes from book knowledge, but also the experience of the doctor.
Hope this helps...
