I have feel stuck between a rock and a hard place with so much information....good information. I have read the perils of root canals (not only bacteria but mine have curved roots) and the perils of taking this tooth (14) out with a long root in the sinus cavity. I have been to dentists who want to only to do a root canal and a dentist who wouldn't take it out because there could be so many problems because of the long root in the sinus cavity. And on top of that no one wants to take off the crown to see if there is a cavity under it and to see in what condition the tooth is really in for fear of going into a root canal.

The tooth has had an infection in it on different levels for the last year and a half.......so far I am good at keeping it down but not getting it to go away (this also may have been to my detriment as I have had the infection so long in this body). Above the tooth about one inch up is a bump with the infection in it that goes up and down...... Every time I get the courage up and make an appointment with a dentist...... I end up coming home still stuck as they say to do something different that what I come to do.

First two wouldn't take the crown off to look to see if decay was under there......the third dentist's secretary who I scheduled a root canal with wouldn't let me talk to him first to ask a few questions about the difference to take it out or do a root canal (I would have to pay $94 for this info).... the next dentist would take it out but didn't want to rush it so told me to come back the next day to a different dentist to extract it.........this new dentist said he didn't want to cause me pain and go to a specialist to do this extraction but he really recommended a root canal and proceeded to tell me the perils of taking the tooth out........ I went for another consultation to another dentist (free) and he said go to a root canal specialist not to take it out.

I am not a candidate for an implant due to the way a tooth next to it is (couldn't afford it anyway). The bone seems good from the x ray they say. I can't do a bridge .... perhaps a partial for the space. On that top left side it is the only tooth that would be gone. On the bottom right side a back molar is gone (nothing there) from when I was a teenager and the teeth did move a bit.

I am a female, sixty, and no dental insurance. So far I have been able to pay to take care of my own teeth. Now it could be very expensive if the Perils were to manifest themselves in either direction I went. Now I am caught in my own catch 22 of fear which way to move. Dental chairs and authority are not my favorites....wish I could take care of it myself with herbs and non invasive treatment. I looked up the tooth chart and corresponding organs, etc. My mouth in general is okay with a little bit of everything done in it. I feel stuck and possibly creating other issues such as decay and infection in this "damned if I do and damned if I don't" thought and fear so I freeze (old dental traumas) ..... and on top of this finding dentists who reflect my stuckness.

I have read all the most of the posts regarding the roots in sinus cavity and molars and a few others. Luckily at this point I have no sinus symptoms or allergies or problems in this area.......Infection running in the body is my main concern right now and I don't like to take antibiotics . I use herbs that you mentioned plus some Chinese herbs that have helped to keep it down.

Anyway thanks for listening and if you have any thoughts about this please let me know. Appreciate all the caring and insights everyone has shared as well as the thorough medical sharings. It is great to be informed especially if I can match a dentist up whom has all this knowledge and uses it and that I can afford.

I am on Maui..... Perhaps I should fly to Mexico (buddy pass) and try out a good clinic there that friends know. I might be able to afford better care....... Right now when I finally make a decision I then draw in a dentist who is thinks opposite of me as to what should be done in that moment. I walk out of the office not getting the procedure done I came in for. It is kind of funny when you think of it.....5 dentists total in about one and a half years.....1 of them in the last two months .......3 of them in the last week. It is getting ridiculous but I am sure learning a lot about teeth out of it. Being one of the dental trauma clients I swear I bring this on out of my own fear of making the wrong decision or fear of having the wrong dentist. Like I said IS THERE ANOTHER OPTION that I am not seeing? Mahalo and enjoy the day.......