Smelly Odor from Gum Not Going Away After New Crown ?

Question

I had a root canal & crown put in 2000. In jan 2011 I began having issues with that front upper tooth, an Odor was coming from it and a metal taste. I had a re-root canal done and was put on antibiotics for an infection that spread. Smell went away but returned this may 2012. I got a teeth clean & that didnt help. I'm told I have a crack in my crown, I get a new one and a clean. Smell on gum is still there. Bone is decaying, requesting implant to be done but will that help? Whats causing odor?

Thomas R. Froning, DDS · Answer

My experience with re-treatment of old root canals is that they don't work very often. The odor is caused by the bacteria still present from the infected tooth. Since the bone is decaying (being eaten by the infection) most likely you need the tooth extracted. It is also my experience that you need to be cautious about grafting and placing an implant in an infected site. The "teeth in a day" approach will not work for this situation. A bridge or delayed implant placement and a new crown would solve the odor and decaying bone.

Brian Dorfman, MD, DMD · Answer

The Odor is most likely from bacterial infection of some kind.  It may be from a peiodontal pocket in the area harboring bacteria or if the tooth is decaying the bacteria will also emit a foul odor.  It sounds as if you have a combination of these issues.  Seek the advice of a Board Certified Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon to help stop this process before it affects other teeth and surrounding tissues in your mouth

Soheyla Marzvaan, DDS (retired) · Answer

If a crown has an open margin, crack, and leakage of some sort the odor can occur. But you said, you replaced it and it did not help. So, either the new crown is still having leakage issues, or your tooth underneath is cracked below the gum line . If the latter, then you need to extract, place possible bone graft and an implant or replace the extracted tooth with a bridge.

	Good luck

Smelly Odor from Gum Not Going Away After New Crown ?

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Smelly Odor from Gum Not Going Away After New Crown ?

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