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What Causes Numbness In Chin Area While Having Treatment For Tooth Abscess?
Question: I had a tooth abscess on a cruise. I took both Cipro and Clindamycin on the cruise to control the infection. When I got home, I had a root canal on the tooth. The endodontist prescribed another round of Clindamycin.
On the third day of the cruise, already taking the antibiotics mentioned, the left side of my lip and chin went numb. Now, three weeks later, after the root canal and the additional round of Clindamycin, my lip and chin are still numb. there has been no change in the numbness. Could this paralysis of the left side of my chin and lip be permanent?
On the third day of the cruise, already taking the antibiotics mentioned, the left side of my lip and chin went numb. Now, three weeks later, after the root canal and the additional round of Clindamycin, my lip and chin are still numb. there has been no change in the numbness. Could this paralysis of the left side of my chin and lip be permanent?
Brief Answer:
Slow recovery can be expected.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX, welcome to HCM forum.
Thanks for posting to us.
Numbness on the corresponding side of chin following tooth abscess indicates involvement of the associated nerve.
These nerves are purely sensory, and we can expect some recovery of sensation unless the involvement was very severe. But, nerve repair is a very slow process and any improvement may take upto 5-6 months to complete. Beyond this duration, further improvement is unlikely.
In short, though it may not be complete, you can expect some gradual improvement.
Your neurologist will discuss this in detail with you.
Meanwhile, include enough green leafy veggies and fruits in your diet.
From your description, it looked like an infection involving one of the sensory branch of mandibular nerve,resulting in parasthesia and numbness.
Unlike healing & repair process in other tissues like muscle, facial and bone, that in nerve tissue is slower and results are often unsatisfactory. Anyhow, pure sensory involvement usually recovers gradually over months, though may not be complete.
Unless there is associated causes like persisting abscess,nerve compression or acute nerve breach, we have no specific treatment available other than nutritional and supplements support. A combination of Vit B1, B6, B12 can be taken in hope of improvement.
Hope this will answer your query.
Be free to ask if you need further clarifications.
Wishing you good health.
thank you.
Slow recovery can be expected.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX, welcome to HCM forum.
Thanks for posting to us.
Numbness on the corresponding side of chin following tooth abscess indicates involvement of the associated nerve.
These nerves are purely sensory, and we can expect some recovery of sensation unless the involvement was very severe. But, nerve repair is a very slow process and any improvement may take upto 5-6 months to complete. Beyond this duration, further improvement is unlikely.
In short, though it may not be complete, you can expect some gradual improvement.
Your neurologist will discuss this in detail with you.
Meanwhile, include enough green leafy veggies and fruits in your diet.
From your description, it looked like an infection involving one of the sensory branch of mandibular nerve,resulting in parasthesia and numbness.
Unlike healing & repair process in other tissues like muscle, facial and bone, that in nerve tissue is slower and results are often unsatisfactory. Anyhow, pure sensory involvement usually recovers gradually over months, though may not be complete.
Unless there is associated causes like persisting abscess,nerve compression or acute nerve breach, we have no specific treatment available other than nutritional and supplements support. A combination of Vit B1, B6, B12 can be taken in hope of improvement.
Hope this will answer your query.
Be free to ask if you need further clarifications.
Wishing you good health.
thank you.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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