Originally Posted by Bryanna

Ashley,

This tooth is infected and a root canal or apicoectomy is not going to cure the infection. The bacteria may have spread to the sinus which is why you have pain in your face and head.

People tend to think that the teeth are separate from the rest of the body. When in fact, our oral health is a reflection of many other things going on in the body. The discomfort around your heart could be related to the infection and/or anxiety over what you are worried about. People who have a compromised immune system due to certain health conditions are more susceptible to the spread of infection as opposed to people who are very healthy. So I have no idea if that would apply to you or not.

Regarding your lymph nodes and fatigue, of course that could be related to the infection. The antibiotic may or may not help with those symptoms.

The most important thing to know is that there is no procedure or antibiotic that will cure the infection in your tooth. The symptoms may subside temporarily but they will at some point return. Teeth require blood to supply nutrients so it can stay alive and healthy. During a root canal procedure the blood supply is cut off when the main nerves are damaged and removed. Rendering the tooth non-vital. The bone surrounding the tooth eventually becomes ischemic and unhealthy as well. This does not heal or get better as long as the tooth is present. Which can make eventual replacement of the tooth with an implant very risky as it carries a higher failure rate as opposed to placing an implant in healthy bone.

I know this is not what you want to hear and the thought of losing your tooth is scary. I do understand and I'm sorry to deliver this news to you. But it's important to consider the risks with hanging onto it. So it may be wise to discuss removal of the tooth and replacement options just to help you get the whole picture.

Keep us posted on how your dental visit goes.

Bryanna