Hi Yankee,

To answer the questions that you had in red. I will copy and re post them then answer you in bold type.

<<Do you really think I had an infection that could of been stewing for that long?>>

ONCE A TOOTH BECOMES INFECTED THERE IS NO PROCEDURE THAT CAN CURE THAT INFECTION. THE ROOT CANAL PROCEDURE CAN ONLY REMOVE THE INFECTED NERVE TISSUE THAT IS ACCESSIBLE IN THE LARGE CANALS INSIDE OF THE TOOTH. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF TINY CANALS THAT CONTAIN NERVE TISSUE THAT ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE. THAT NERVE TISSUE CONTINUES TO BREED INFECTIOUS BACTERIA INTO THE TOOTH AND EVENTUALLY BEYOND.

<< Dentist said possibly a month or two, I have regular xrays yearly and nothing looked out of ordinary with this tooth at the time.>>

THE TINY CANALS ARE MICROSCOPIC AND NOT VISIBLE ON A DENTAL XRAY. THE INFECTED NERVE TISSUE DOES NOT SHOW ITSELF RADIO GRAPHICALLY UNTIL IT PROLIFERATED BEYOND THESE TINY CANALS AND HAS BECOME LARGE ENOUGH TO BE VISIBLE. ALSO, IT COMMON TO SEE PATHOLOGY IN OR AROUND ROOT CANALED TEETH. IT IS NEVER HEALTHY FOR THERE TO BE PATHOLOGY IN THOSE AREAS, IT IS JUST COMMON AND OFTEN GOES UNDIAGNOSED UNTIL IT BECOMES SEVERE.

<< However, when I had the tooth xray the other day before extraction, the infection was SEVERE and very noticable on the xray per the Dentist>>

AS I SAID, WHEN IT BECOMES SEVERE, THEN IT IS DIAGNOSED. HOWEVER, THE ONSET OF THE INFECTION OCCURRED LONG BEFORE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS SUCH.

<<Is it really possible to have a 12 year infection?>>

ABSOLUTELY. IN SOME PEOPLE THE INFECTION PROGRESSES SLOWLY WHILE IN OTHERS MORE RAPIDLY. A HEALTHY TOOTH IS SOMEWHAT SELF CONTAINED IN A LIGAMENT IN THE JAW BONE AND IS FED NUTRITION THROUGH BLOOD VESSELS AND NERVES THAT THE TOOTH IS INTRICATELY CONNECTED TO. ONCE THE INFECTIOUS BACTERIA BREAKS THROUGH THE TOOTH AND PENETRATES INTO THE LIGAMENT AND BONE, THEN IT BECOMES MORE VIRULENT.

<<Could that have affected my health over this time frame and is a week of antibiotics enough time to rid of this? >>

ANY LONG TERM INFECTION ANY PLACE IN THE MOUTH OR BODY CAN AFFECT YOUR OVERALL HEALTH. IT CAN CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO INFECTIONS ELSEWHERE IN THE BODY.... IT CAN CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO PROBLEMS WITH OUR VITAL ORGANS AND/OR THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. A WEEK OF ANTIBIOTICS MAY OR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE. IT DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL CASE. TAKING ANTIBIOTICS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE SPECIES OF BACTERIA THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING IN THAT AREA OF BONE HAVE NOT BEEN SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED. YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A COMMON ANTIBIOTIC WHICH IS THE TYPICAL STANDARD OF CARE RECOMMENDATION.

<<Do you think my health could of been impacted from this infection for a period of time? I have felt really down in the dumps lately. Tired, not myself etc.>>

THAT IS VERY POSSIBLE. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR A TOOTH INFECTION TO MAKE SOMEONE FEEL UNWELL. ANY SEVERE AND/OR LONG TERM INFECTION EVENTUALLY TIRES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. NOW THAT THE CAUSE OF THE INFECTION, THE TOOTH, HAS BEEN REMOVED AND HOPEFULLY THE SURGEON WAS THOROUGH IN REMOVING THE LIGAMENT AND DISEASED BONE WHEN HE REMOVED THE TOOTH, YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN REGAIN SOME STRENGTH AND GET YOU BACK TO FEELING WELL AGAIN.

<< I'm hoping I can get more used to the lack of teeth on that side, I know i need to give it time as its only been two days. Thank you for this last part, it reassures me Im not alone. I'm jelous of people who have all their teeth now lol.>>

YOU WILL ADJUST TO NOT HAVING THAT TOOTH BACK THERE. I KNOW IT SEEMS SO STRANGE THAT IT IS GONE, BUT AS THE SITE HEALS AND YOUR TONGUE AND CHEEK GET ADJUSTED TO THE SPACE, YOU WILL NOT MISS IT NEARLY AS MUCH AS YOU THINK YOU WILL.

Bryanna