First post here, and I just want to say first that this site and these posts in this forum have helped me so much during this saga I have been having with my tooth. It has helped to ease some of my worries over the past few months and I thank you for that. I wanted to post my experience and some symptoms I am now having after a tooth extraction to see if anyone has a different opinion or some in sight on the situation.

This all began in March 2014 on my bottom right molar, second from the back (I believe #37?, I have had all 4 wisdom teeth out for 8 years now so I'm not counting those). I had a filling in that tooth for years and developed decay underneath, so the dentist removed the filling and decay, and replaced with a silver filling. For a couple weeks after, I had a tin sensation between my teeth every time I bit down - almost like a lightning bolt. I had gone in 2 times for a bite adjustment over March and April, then in the beginning of May, BAM!!! Full out infection in my tooth/jaw, it was so swollen and painful I could hardly bare it. Of course I went back to the dentist who did the filling and he continued to tell me it was just a large filling, it was going to take some time to settle and he gave me some antibiotics for the infection. I've never had anything like this before, so I said okay and went on my way.

Well, needless to say I had to go back because the infection didn't go away nor did the swelling or pain. The dentist said after looking at xrays, he couldnt see anything visibly wrong with the tooth, just a large filling and that maybe there was either a hairline fracture or the large filling was still settling and we could wait it out. I said forget that, if the infection was going to clear out with antibiotics it would have, I couldn't go on living with this infection in there so we opted for a root canal to try to save the tooth. He performed the root canal early June, and after the procedure explained that there was a bit of pus coming out of the canals (I guess?) while he was cleaning but other than that, he just got up and left. No antibiotics or nothing prescribed after the procedure and I just went home.

After the root canal, the infection still didn't clear out all the way. I went back to the dental office and saw a different dentist there to get a second opinion. She took some xrays and said there was a little bit of infection still left right at the bottom of the tooth so she gave me some amoxicillin and flagyl to clear it up. Basically from May to October, I was on antibiotics of some kind to clear up the infection (flagyl, amoxicillin, clinamyacin, you name it) and nothing worked.

Finally, I said enough of the antibiotics (my insides were ravaged) and went to get a third opinion at a different office in October. She took some xrays and it still showed that same little infection. She offered to refer me to a specialist or if I wanted, we could remove the tooth but explained this may or may not help and all those concerns. To be honest, at this point I was at my wits end, I had spent the last half year of my life in so much pain and it was affecting my work and life so I just opted to have the sucker taken out. I'm not sure if that was the right decision, but like I said I was at my wits end and I don't have benefits nor a lot of money.

October 8, 2014 I had the molar extracted. The procedure took about an hour and a half - it was not pleasant. It came out in so many broken little pieces, she explained it was because of the root canal. She gave me some antibiotics to help with the infection and after the initial healing, things seemed to have cleared up with it.

HOWEVER - Early last week (November 24, 2014), I had what I think was two little bone or tooth fragments work their way out. Now it seems what I think to be a bone spur coming out of the side of the gum and poking into my cheek. It is very tender to touch. Aside from that, I am also experiencing what feels like an infection forming again in the jaw again - kinda like a tight, heavy feeling and can almost feel a bump underneath where the tooth was, just like I had when it was there and infected. I feel so utterly defeated, could this be infected again? I think maybe it is and maybe it opened up again when those two little bone fragments came out and some bacteria got in again. It is even possible for the area to get infected after almost 2 months of healing?

I know its a long story, and thanks if you stuck in there to read it. I'd appreciate any insight or opinion on this situation! Thank you