Hi jimkh,

I will re-post your questions and answer in bold type.

<<But you scare me when you say the bacteria can go to the brain.>>

THE INFORMATION THAT I PROVIDE HERE AND WITH THE PATIENTS THAT I SEE EVERY DAY IS FACTUAL. YES, IT CAN BE SCARY TO THINK ABOUT AN INFECTION TRAVELING TO THE BRAIN OR ELSEWHERE. BUT THAT IS A REAL POSSIBILITY WITH ANY ORAL INFECTION AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT. THAT IS WHY I GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION.

<<So if the infection has spread and is spreading, will taking the tooth out solve it? where will the bacteria which has got into my blood go?>>

ANY LONG STANDING ORAL OR TOOTH INFECTION CAN BE DIFFICULT TO ERADICATE COMPLETELY BECAUSE THE BACTERIA CAN MIGRATE TO AREAS THAT ARE NOT VISIBLE TO THE EYE OR RADIO GRAPHICALLY UNTIL THEY ARE LARGE OR DENSE ENOUGH TO BE SEEN. THIS IS WHY I REPETITIVELY INFORM PEOPLE TO NOT HOLD ON TO INFECTED OR ROOT CANALED TEETH.

IDEALLY ONCE A TOOTH BECOMES INFECTED IT SHOULD BE REMOVED TO AVOID THE SPREAD OF INFECTION IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN THESE CASES REMOVING THE TOOTH AND THOROUGHLY DEBRIDING THE SOCKET WILL CURE THE INFECTION.

GOOD AND BAD BACTERIA FILTER THROUGH OUR BLOODSTREAM CONTINUOUSLY EVERY SECOND OF OUR LIVES. OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DESTROY THE BACTERIA THAT CAN HARM US. HOWEVER, IF THE BACTERIA BECOMES PREVALENT OR OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS ALREADY COMPROMISED WITH ILL HEALTH THAT IS WHEN WE END UP SICK.

<< i read that the tooth must not be extracted while its infected. So do i need antibiotics first or not? which antibiotics?>>

THAT IS FALSE. THERE IS NO AMOUNT OF ANY ANTIBIOTICS THAT WILL CURE AN INFECTED TOOTH. SOMETIMES ANTIBIOTICS ARE PRESCRIBED FOR 3 OR SO DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXTRACTION TO ATTEMPT TO REDUCE THE INFLAMMATION SO THAT THE LOCAL ANESTHETIC IS EFFECTIVE AND THE PROCEDURE IS LESS DIFFICULT. HOWEVER, ANTIBIOTICS ARE NOT ALWAYS NECESSARY PRIOR TO THE REMOVAL OF A TOOTH.

<<and also i read that the area needs to be cleaned once extracted. This is more work than with a wisdom tooth. You dont need to clean a wisdom tooth.>>

AGAIN YOU ARE READING FALSE INFORMATION. EVERY EXTRACTION REQUIRES A THOROUGH DEBRIDEMENT OF THE BONE. EVERY EXTRACTION, INCLUDING WISDOM TEETH BECAUSE EVERY TOOTH HAS A LIGAMENT THAT NEEDS TO BE SCRAPED OUT AND THE BONE NEEDS TO BE CLEANED UP.

<< So the question is, if the dentist doesnt clean the area properly after extraction cold it lead to more chronic infection?>>

YES. IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE ORAL SURGEON TO THOROUGHLY SCRAPE THE SOCKET CLEAN.

<<what frustrated me is that i read abcesses can easily be diagnosed.>>

NOT NECESSARILY. DENTAL XRAYS ARE ONLY 2 DIMENSIONAL WHICH MEANS THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE NOT PICKED UP ON THESE XRAYS. THE DENTIST CAN ALTER THE ANGLE OF THE XRAY OR TRY DOING THE BI SECTING TECHNIQUE TO VIEW OTHER AREAS. BUT AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE NOT ALL ORAL INFECTIONS CAN BE SEEN ON XRAYS UNTIL THEY ARE ADVANCED.

<<After tapping the tooth and applying cold, he said he didnt think there was anything wrong. Even though the xray did show something odd, he still did not seem sure. >>

IF YOU HAVE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH A TOOTH.... IT MEANS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TOOTH. IF IT IS FRACTURED THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO DETECT CLINICALLY. THE FRACTURE IS OFTEN NOT SEEN UNTIL THE TOOTH IS REMOVED AND THE TOOTH CAN BE SEEN IN IT'S ENTIRETY.

WHAT WAS THE "ODD" THAT HE SAW ON YOUR XRAY??

<<So what more tests can be done? He didnt see any decay or holes in the tooth. there is no fillings on the tooth. >>

IF THE COLD TEST CAME UP POSITIVE... MEANING YOU HAD NO FEELING WHEN HE PUT SOMETHING EXTREMELY COLD ON THE TOOTH THAT INDICATES THE NERVE IS DYING OR DEAD. ALL HEALTHY TEETH WILL REACT TO PUTTING SOMETHING VERY COLD DIRECTLY ON IT.

<<yes the xray was a digital file - He showed it to me on the computer screen. I will ask him to email it to me and i will post it if and when i obtain it.>>

THE XRAY IS YOUR PROPERTY. I WILL BE GLAD TO TAKE A LOOK IF YOU POST IT HERE.

<<yes you are right i have not been to the dentist before this in about 5 years. This is the only teeth which is discolored and giving slight pain and symptoms.>>

OKAY SO NOT HAVING ROUTINE DENTAL CLEANINGS CAN INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE A BUILD UP OF HARD PLAQUE ON YOUR TEETH. WHEN THIS PLAQUE IS NOT REMOVED, IT WILL BUILD UP BELOW THE GUM LINE AND ADHERE TO THE ROOT SURFACE OF THE TEETH. SOME TEETH CAN BECOME SENSITIVE OR PAINFUL AND PRESENT SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO A TOOTH ACHE. THE LONGER THIS PLAQUE IS ABLE TO FORM ON THE TEETH THE MORE TOOTH PROBLEMS WILL OCCUR AND ONCE IT IS REMOVED, THERE CAN BE SENSITIVITIES THAT WOULD NOT NORMALLY BE THERE IF THE PLAQUE HAD NOT ACCUMULATED IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO IT WOULD BEHOOVE YOU TO HAVE YOUR TEETH PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED.

<<Does the fact that when i apply ice and i cant feel anything not confirm that its dead?>>

WHEN A TOOTH IS NOT RESPONSIVE TO ICE BEING DIRECTLY APPLIED TO IT... THIS CAN INDICATE SOMETHING UNHEALTHY IS GOING ON WITH THE NERVES OF THAT TOOTH.

Bryanna