Hi ms bubbles,

Thank you for your kind words, truly appreciated

I am going to re post your questions, concerns and reply in bold type.

<<Should I try to go to an oral surgeon instead of him? Or does he sound like he would do it the right way?>>

GO TO AN ORAL SURGEON TO HAVE THE TOOTH REMOVED AS IT MAY BE MORE INFECTED THAN THIS DENTIST HAS INFORMED YOU AND THERE COULD BE A POSSIBLE SINUS COMMUNICATION THAT HE WOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCED IN TREATING. HE IS ALSO MISINFORMED YOU ABOUT THE PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT IN THAT IT DOES NEED TO BE REMOVED IN IT'S ENTIRETY AND NO THE BODY WON'T MAJESTICALLY TAKE CARE OF THE INFECTION IF THERE IS SOMETHING PRESENT THAT IS CREATING THE INFECTION WHICH WOULD BE THE REMNANTS OF LIGAMENT AND INFECTED BONE.

<<Also, do all oral surgeons remove the ligament, root tip and surrounding bone automatically, or do only holistic oral surgeons make sure to do that?>>

ALL DENTISTS ARE EDUCATED ABOUT REMOVING THE PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT AND DISEASED TISSUE WHEN EXTRACTING ANY TOOTH. HOWEVER, THIS STEP IS NOT ALWAYS DONE, EVEN BY ORAL SURGEONS AND THERE IS NO LOGICAL ANSWER WHY IT'S NOT. SO ANYTIME YOU ARE CONSULTING A DENTIST, EVEN AN ORAL SURGEON, ABOUT EXTRACTING A TOOTH IT BEHOOVES YOU TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU WANT AND EXPECT THE PERIODONTAL LIGAMENT AND ALL DISEASED TISSUE AND BONE TO BE REMOVED AFTER THE TOOTH IS EXTRACTED. YOU ALSO WANT TO BE INFORMED IF THERE IS ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF A SINUS PERFORATION OR COMMUNICATION.

HOLISTIC AND BIOLOGICAL DENTISTS TEND TO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING THOROUGH IN THE REMOVAL OF TEETH, LIGAMENT, ETC. BUT AGAIN, ALWAYS STATE YOUR NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS CLEARLY. I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU SEE A HOLISTIC OR BIOLOGICAL DENTIST, THAT HE BE VERY EXPERIENCED IN ORAL SURGERY AS MOST GENERAL DENTISTS ONLY DO OCCASIONAL EXTRACTIONS.

<<PS. He did say that the bone around that tooth had reversed quite a bit compared to the teeth next to it. He said it may be due to a low grade infection or that the bone loss could be due to the other molar behind it was removed.>>

NOT SURE WHAT REVERSED MEANS. DID HE SAY THERE WAS BONE RESORPTION? THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT THE INFECTION IS MORE WIDESPREAD AND LONG TERM. ALL ROOT CANALED TEETH HAVE SOME DEGREE OF INFECTION BREWING IN THEM. ROOT OR BONE RESORPTION IS TYPICAL, AS IN OFTEN NOT HEALTHY, OF RC TEETH. THE BONE LOSS IN THE ADJACENT AREA OF THE MISSING MOLAR COULD ALSO INDICATE A LONG TERM INFECTION. THIS ENTIRE QUADRANT NEEDS TO BE EVALUATED MORE THOROUGHLY.

<<He also said that if there had been a low grade infection in the bone, there would have been much more bone loss.>>

NOT TRUE. THERE IS ALWAYS SOME DEGREE OF INFECTION WITH ROOT CANALED TEETH AND THE LONGER THEY ARE PRESENT, THE MORE WIDESPREAD THE BACTERIA CAN BECOME WHICH MEANS IT MAY NOT LIMIT ITSELF TO JUST ONE AREA, IT MAY BE MORE DIFFUSE.

I would suggest that you have a complete comprehensive oral examination and full mouth series of radio graphs by a general dentist. This way you have a clear understanding of what your general dental issues may be. If you see a holistic or biological dentist for that they can refer you to an oral surgeon for removal of that tooth.