Hello, Bryanna, I browsed the entire thread on infection under root canal, and I am so thankful that you graciously provide such pertinent information. I wasn't sure where the better place was to post my issue, so I made my own thread as well.

I am a 26yo college student and have no dental insurance. I have a dental discount plan, and that's it. I went for my 6mos cleaning and checkup in late August and discovered a bunch of issues and began a treatment plan.

I have always had trouble with my teeth because I am a grinder/clencher. I have been so my whole life, but only recently got a mouth guard in 2012. It has helped immensely since then, but a lot of damage had already been sustained. I have 3 RC'd teeth in my mouth currently and 2 or 3 silver fillings from when I was a kid. I wish I'd seen your info before I'd gotten my most recent RC on tooth 7 (which was about 3.5 weeks ago). The tooth had no bulging infection visible on the x-ray, but a very small filling I didn't need had been placed right on top of the nerve (I got this done abroad, and the dentist thought he was "helping" me by filling in a small area of staining in my tooth without permission. The tooth had no decay. It had given me no issues for a year or so after, so I thought all was well). It became extremely painful (though not while chewing) to the point that it hurt to place my mouthguard on, yet at the same time, the pressure from me clenching while asleep produced throbbing pain when I awoke. So, I had it RC'd and all pain/sensitivity is gone. I never received any antibiotics or oral pain meds before or after the procedure. I actually did inquire about a dental implant but the dentist said, you're far too young to need something like that etc...

I was also told around the same time (and saw the x-rays for myself) that my RC'd tooth from 2009 was re-infected (I believe tooth 31 or 30). It had a very tiny area of darkness near the tip of the root filling. I was also told (and again shown) that this happened because the Endo who filled it, didn't fill the entire canal like he should have. And indeed, when you see the x-rays, the left side of the tooth is not as... "filled" as the right side. They told me it would be easy to "save" my tooth with another RC because the infection wasn't widespread (I lol at that after reading what you've written in this thread).

Well, I wasn't sure what to do, and was told I had time to wait since the infection wasn't "bad." In fact, up until this very night, the tooth had been asymptomatic. Tonight, after pressure on the tooth from lack of a mouthguard (have to get another one made due to the recent RC), I assume, I woke up with it throbbing to the touch. I began researching re-infected RC'd teeth and happened across this thread.

I definitely don't want to get another root canal. I am thinking that because the infected area is so small, I probably would be able to get an implant without needing a bone graft. I am a generally healthy person who has a lot of subsequent dental problems from clenching and grinding. However, your post concerned me in regards to implants because it seems they have a very high risk of failing when replacing a root canal? I am absolutely AGAINST any type of denture/partial denture/or bridge. I want something that will stay in my mouth forever. I'm too young to worry about removing dentures and all that.

Funny, while researching, I also came across a Yahoo Answers thread: Should I get an implant after a failed root canal? (I can't post the link because I'm new); And it just makes me wonder why some dentist are intent on RC's. The first DDS that responded to the young woman didn't have anything to gain financially and yet still told her to try and save the tooth as a first line of treatment... WHY don't all dentists know what you know Bryanna??

I am so afraid & frustrated. I figure I can take out some sort of care loan to pay for all this, so I'm not as concerned about the money. I just want a healthy mouth, and I feel screwed with both options. I just want to burst into tears thinking about it