Question: Tooth # 13 was pulled due to an abcess about 12 yrs ago. Tooth # 14 has given me minor discomfort for several years. I used to have the dentist put desensitizing stuff on the outside of it about once a year. About 3 yrs ago the dentist put a crown on it. For the past year and a half or so it has sometimes gotten a little sore to the touch but seems to be tied to my sinus issues as all I have to do to make the soreness go away is inhale vapor from hot water with Vicks Vaporub in it. The dentist has xrayed the tooth at least 3 times and has never seen anything. For past couple of months the gum by the tooth was sore and would bleed when I hit it with the waterpik. I had my teeth cleaned 3 days ago and since then no more bleeding and gums seems to have healed as it is no longer sore. The hygienist xrayed the tooth and now I have a phone message from my dentist that it looks like an abcess is starting at the root. At this point I have no gum bleeding or soreness, no tooth pain, no sensitivity to hot or cold. Is is possible that the dentist is mis-reading the xray?