Hello,
I find this forum extremely information and after reading your comments on root canals and infections I already know what you will say but I figured I might as well share my issue and hear it for myself
About 10 years ago I received a root canal on my lower left tooth- the second one from the back (not sure what number that is-number 16?). All was well for a few years and then all of a sudden about 4 years ago I would get a fistula on the gum next to the tooth. It would come and go (which I regret not having it taken care of sooner since I let it go for a few years before having anything done) and I got a root canal retreatment last year in January of 2014 as per my dentist and the endodontist. All was well again and then in June the bump came back and I went back to the endodontist who took an xray and we found that post that was put in by my general dentist after the retreatment was too large and causing an infection.(originally for this retreatment my general dentist prepped the tooth and took mold for the crown, the endodontist did the retreatment and then I went back to the general dentist for the post and crown to be put on). So my GD took off the crown and replaced the post and crown (luckily at no charge since he messed up)
Now it's March 2015 and the fistula is back. Luckily I found this forum and read many of the threads with people with the same problem. I had an appointment anyways with the GD for another crown on the opposite side to be put on so I had him look at the tooth. He put me on Clindomycin and said that the antibiotics should take care of it unless I want the tooth extracted. after reading your forum I knew that extraction would be best and happy that an apicoectomy wasn't suggested. I told him that I want the tooth out and want to leave it alone for a long time (have no desire for a bridge or implant) although, of course, he is suggesting an implant. I attached a picture of the tooth that i took while it was up on his screen so I'm not sure if you can really see anything-it's the picture of the tooth in the lower left of the screen.
I don't want a bridge and I don't like the idea of a screw holding up a tooth from my jawbone for an implant. Just doesn't sound right to me. Luckily, he says that whatever I want to do is best so he's not super pushy but says that if it was him he would get an implant and that having the tooth pulled can lead to the other teeth closing in on it a bit (doesn't sound too bad) and the upper teeth getting longer since there will be a gap and shared that eating will not be fun or easy. Still- doesn't sound too horrible to me since a recurring infection scares me and makes me wonder what it's doing to my overall health.
Also- about 3 years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimotos Thyroiditis- an autoimmune disease that attacks my thyroid and am worried that my lingering infection might have been the cause or atleast contributed to the problem. Since my diagnosis I'm gluten free and slowly working on dairy free but I guess that information is for another post on a different thread.
Besides offering advice on what to do next on my tooth, do you have suggestions about what to do to maintain the health of my teeth besides brushing, flossing, mouthwash- any supplements?
Anyways, based on the previous posts tooth extraction is probably the best without a bridge or implantation, right?
Please advise at your earliest convenience and I apologize for asking for help with something I've seen that has been explained many times here.
Thank you,
CJ