Hi! I had a root canal and crown in a back molar about 4 years ago. About 5 days ago that tooth started hurting...It feels like the crown is "higher" and that tooth hits first when biting down on something. During the day it is sensitive to pressure, making me think there is an infection at the tip of the root and/or bone. At night it is more painful, sometimes throbbing. The pain is not constant, but it is bad enough at times that eating anything on that side is not fun :/ I'm 48, and the only other dental work I've ever had done was a root canal and a crown on a tooth that broke in an accident when I was a teen( eye tooth). I've never had any cavities or gum disease. My issue now is that we don't currently have any dental insurance. My understanding is that a rootcanal doesn't clean out, but rather contains any infection, so I'm wondering if there is any way to treat the infection homeopathically or with diet. I want to avoid an unnecessary medication and additional dental work, but I'm afraid that the only option might be having my tooth extracted then having to deal with some kind of a replacement. I'm otherwise healthy. is there anything I can do? I also don't want to wait if it IS an infection and have it spread...We are on a very limited budget.
Lisa

Hi Lisa,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.

Unfortunately there is no homeopathic or other remedy that will cure an infected tooth. The infection stems from the nerve tissue that is trapped inside of the hundreds of curvy microscopic canals. So the only sure way of removing the infection is to remove the source, which is the tooth.

It is easier and healthier to replace an extracted tooth with a dental implant if the infection has not yet spread to the jaw bone. So ideally the sooner the infected tooth is removed, the better the outcome.

I would suggest that you consult with an oral surgeon about this tooth and and if you decide to extract it, let him do it rather than a general dentist as he will have more knowledge and experience with removing root canaled teeth.

To learn more about what a root canaled tooth really is and the risks of keeping a root canaled tooth, go to this link and open the book by Dr George Meinig, read through the preface and several pages there after. He gives a great explanation.

http://www.amazon.com/Root-Canal-Cov...+george+meinig

Hope you find this information helpful.
Bryanna