Hi Bryanna,

My name is Ken
I had a root canal in Nov 12, then a crown in early Feb 13 on my 1-6 tooth. Now I have infection and of course my dentist has referred me to an endodentist for a $2000 re-canal job which I hear you saying probably won't work. He also gave me a precription for penicillin.

My infection is still minor..no fistula ..mild discomfort on the outside of the gum..X-ray today showed a small area of infection at the end of one canal. My bite feels too high and my Dentist says it is because the inflammation is pushing the tooth out..this the high bite.

If I take the pencillin can my tooth be saved?

It hate to have my $2000 crown extracted ($1100 for the root canal and $900 for the crown.)

If i have to have it extracted, can a general Dentist do it (he has pulled teeth before) or do I need to go to a specialist?

I read about scraping the ligament? in one of your other posts and i don't recall my dentist ever doing anything after pulling the tooh out!!!

WHy are dentists allowed to do so many root canals if they almost always get infected???

Ken

Hi Ken,

Re treating the tooth will have no benefit because the infection is originating from the microscopic canals that contain infected nerve and are not accessible. ALL dentists know that these canals remain infected but they fail to inform the patient of that fact. I'm sorry you were not informed.

Because the dental work was done so recently and the evidence of infection is so apparent, you have recourse to ask for a complete refund of your money simply because the dentist indicated to you that the root canal and the crown would solve your original problem..... without informing you of the other.

If you decide to have the tooth removed, I would encourage you to see an oral surgeon rather than have a general dentist do it. Most oral surgeons routinely remove the periodontal ligament and debride the bone during the oral surgery. Most general dentists unless they have been re-trained in oral surgery do not remove the ligament or debride the bone. I would also tell the oral surgeon you want to make sure both of those procedures are done to ensure the removal of the infection.

Keep us posted...
Bryanna