Jaw cancer - irrational or a possibility?

[Natashahopkins123]

I've had a hard lump on my lower gum for a few weeks now which hasnt been helped with antibiotics.
Dentist has done an urgent referral to the hospital and I am seeing them late next week.
Doesn't look like mouth cancer but jaw cancer can show as a lump in the mouth apparently,
Anyone shed any light?

[Blippybirthday]

I agree with runrun. It won't stop you worrying though. X

[paddyclampo]

I would say it is almost certainly something to do with the root canal work you've had done!

[Natashahopkins123]

Paddyclampo,
I think so deep down too although not sure why this would happen AFTER the root canal.
Although maybe there's still infection and it needs re doing.
Can a cyst be caused by failed root canal?
Did the antibiotics not help you at all?
They reduced my lump slightly ( which helps my anxiety as an pretty sure a few amoxicillin wouldn't help reduce a cancer lump ) but it's now rock hard and still very much there

[GandalfsPointyHat]

Hi,
Sorry you are so stressed, no more usefull advice to add, but I had a really big cyst after a root canal, right at the en of the root, dentist picked it up ages after rc was done, tooth was sensitive to bite down on but I thought it was due to the rc canal anyway, so never had it investigated further. Was all contained within the bony bit, so no limps or bumps. Was only diagnosed on xray. I would look to most recent work done as the most likely culprit, doesn't help with the worry though! Good luck and do not google! ;-)

[Natashahopkins123]

Can I ask what they did when they found the cyst?
Thanks

[Mrsmorton]

They would normally remove it along with part of the root of the tooth, put some very expensive filling in the end of the tooth and stitch your gum down. It's called an apicectomy.

It's very dependent on what sort of cyst it is so it's best you wait for your appointment instead of worrying about things which might not even apply to you.

[GandalfsPointyHat]

I had to go to a specialist dentist, he removed the old root canal and replaced it, apparently I have particularly deep roots, prev dentist didn't fill one all the way and a cyst formed in the 'gap'. We're talking about minute spaces here, wasn't like he left half of the root unfilled or anything! I got a huuuuge filling and was advised to wait a few years before having the tooth crowned, in case the cyst returned. Follow-up x rays every year to check. So far so good. This was all done in cape town though, things might be done differently here. Hope this helps! Now go do something fun!

[Natashahopkins123]

Thankyou so much for your help.
I have long roots myself, so much so that an extraction under sedation had to be stopped halfway through as I was waking up through the tugging!
Would really not want to lose the tooth but the NHS apparently won't re do the root canal if it fails

[paddyclampo]

I think they might have reduced it slightly but they certainly didn't get rid of it!

I remember it was a very complicated root canal that needed doing and I think she had to do it over 2 separate sessions - she packed it with an anti bacterial dressing in between!

As I say, mine also was rock hard - I think it was because the tooth had died and something happens which causes this hard lump.

My dentist always checks for oral cancer but she never feels for lumps, just looks for sores

[Natashahopkins123]

Paddyclampo,
Thankyou so very much for coming back to me.
Oral cancer from what I have researched appear as sores / lesions rather than lumps hence why I was very worried about jaw cancer as this can cause a lump which protrudes into the gum tissue however I know in the great scheme of things it's very unlikely.
As I had the root canal work done on the NHS under sedation ( terrible phobia of the dentist ) I had to wait 4 months inbetween the temporary / permanent part of the root canal.
Guess this probably hasn't helped things :(
Im happy to go private for the root canal to be done again if they allow me to keep the tooth!

[Natashahopkins123]

Ng

[Natashahopkins123]

Sorry above was a typo!
Thankyou very much for all your replies, am slighty less worried now although made the mistake of googling the procedure and saw sometimes a small amount of the jaw needs to be cut away which made me shudder!

[paddyclampo]

I'm not a big fan of the dentist at all, ex-phobic - don't know what I'd do if my current dentist left as I really trust her! But even though it was a very long and complicated one I survived and can say hand on heart it didn't hurt!