I recently has a front tooth break off at the gumline. My (realtively new to me) dentist performed a root canal, then days later installed a post and temp crown, then later a crown.

When the crown was installed I felt pressure on the whole row of top teeth. Like a crowding of the teeth. And there was a a sore/swollen area way above the repaired tooth, inside the mouth at highest point of of the gum. (Put your finger just under your right nose hole and press on the gum; that's where the sore, swollen area was.

 Two days later I visited the dentist and he exaplained that some of the paste he used in the root canal obviously espcaped from the top of the tooth -- and that my body would absorb it in about two weeks and all would be fine.

I was curious about the paste and he said it was Sargenti Paste. I havew since read up on Sargenti Paste and am somewhat alarmed by what I read. (It has not been approived by the FDA, for example).

Now, 12 days later, the swelling has subsided a lot (though not entirely) and the pressure on the top row of teeth is gone. The treated tooth feels "dead." As to a lesser degree, so does the front tooth next to it. And I can feel a little swelling/infection on both sides of my face, just below the ears, which may or may not be related.

My question: How dangerous is that Sargenti Paste? Is my future health in general in any danger because of all this? And what precautiuon/action should I take now, if any?

mdelmatt

The American Association of Endodontists’ Stand on Sealers Containing Paraformaldehyde

The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) is dedicated to maintaining the highest quality of care in the practice of endodontics. As part of that dedication, the AAE actively supports the use of safe and effective materials in connection with root canal therapy. The AAE recognizes that legitimate differences of professional opinion may exist as to the "safest" or "most effective" material for a specific patient or specific circumstances. In recognition of those legitimate differences of professional opinion, the AAE does not endorse the use of specific materials. However, the AAE does recommend against the use of materials containing paraformaldehyde as they have proven to be both unsafe and ineffective.

Endodontic filling materials or sealers containing paraformaldehyde (frequently known as Sargenti pastes, N-2, N-2 Universal, RC-2B or RC-2B White) should not be used for endodontic therapy because those materials are unsafe. Extensive scientific research has proven unequivocally that filling materials containing paraformaldehyde and sealers can cause irreversible damage to tissues near the root canal system including the following: destruction of connective tissue and bone; intractable pain; paresthesia and dysthesia of the mandibular and maxillary nerves; and chronic infections of the maxillary sinus. Moreover, scientific evidence has demonstrated that the damage from filling materials and sealers containing paraformaldehyde is not necessarily confined to tissues near the root canal. The active ingredients of these filling materials and sealers have been found to travel throughout the body and have been shown to infiltrate the blood, lymph nodes, adrenal glands, kidney, spleen, liver, and brain.

Public health concerns and litigation have made the AAE aware of a significant number of patients who have suffered injuries as a result of treatment with filling materials and sealers containing paraformaldehyde. Undoubtedly, there are many other patients who have also suffered injuries because of these materials, but whose injuries have not been publicly disclosed. Safe and effective root canal filling materials and sealers are available. In light of the availability of safe and effective alternatives, the American Association of Endodontists recommends against the use of filling materials or sealers containing paraformaldehyde because the use of such is below the standard of care for endodontic therapy.

Source: www.aae.org (American Association of Endodontists

Sorry for the delay in responding to your posting. I have been traveling.

Your health comes first. Please see an endodontist right away. Afterwards, perhaps with some guidance from the endodontist, you can decide how to approach this matter with the dentist who treated you. Let us know what happens.

mdelmatt,

If you are still monitoring this board...what has happened since your Sargenti root canal?

Thanks

Hope you are doing ok.

Some information.

http://www.dentalwatch.org/questionable/sargenti/overview.html

http://www.aae.org/NR/rdonlyres/14F3726F-DA2D-4155-97E9-D0201E690B17/0/paraformaldehydefillingmaterials.pdf