Hi Christina,

Ok, I'm going to be very straight with you on this one. This is not something that should wait. The infection started in your mouth and proliferated (spread) from the original site through the jawbone into the facial tissue. This is a nasty infection that will continue to proliferate from one area of your jawbone to another and yes, it is has become systemic, meaning it is traveling into your blood stream. The fact that it seems to keep re-occuring is because the source of the infection is still present and all of the treatment that you have had done so far has not eliminated that source. The dental xray determined that the tooth is now the source. The only sure way to eliminate the infection is to remove the tooth and any other teeth that may also be infected. Replacement options for that tooth (teeth) may be limited because of the damage that has occured (and is continuing to occur) in the jawbone. Dental implants may or may not be doable or successful for the long term in that area.

It's important to know that all root canaled teeth are infected. There is no way to access the millions of microscopic canals inside of the tooth, therefore, the nerve material inside of these canals remain infected necrotic material keeping the tooth chronically infected. The infection eventually spreads from the tooth to the jawbone. There are no exceptions to this as the anatomy of our teeth are the same in every person other than those who were born with a rare condition in which they have no nerve canals inside of their teeth. But that's a whole other topic completely.

I am alarmed (although not surprised) that your dentist would even suggest doing a root canal in that lower tooth. It would not be wise to do that and you are risking your health as long as that infection is present.

With regard to the other abcess in an already root canaled tooth... again, so long as the source of infection (meaning the infected tooth) is present, the infection will be present. Retreating that tooth with another root canal procedure or a surgical procedure called an apicoectomy is a waste of your time, money and ultimately your health.

Christina, I urge you to seek treatment and not wait to take care of this infection. The antibiotic is only going to subside your symptoms temporarily and it will not cure the infection.

I apologize for being so blunt but I've seen your situation before and it is best that you deal with it soon.

Please keep in touch with us... OK?

Bryanna