Gene363 wrote:Wow! Tooth/jaw infections are a serious matter that can seriously impact your health, beyond your teeth. Good analysis points. My dentist did mention that I may need a root canal. I was taken back when she talked extraction vs saving. I think me wanting to save the tooth ended a discussion of alternatives. The old crown lasted about seven years and before that about ten years. I will revisit the plan with my dentist, thank you very much.
I remember finding out I had a jaw infection. It had eaten all the way through the bone below the tooth. The tooth had probably been damaged in a bar fight...at some point the tooth died and I remember it hurting... then I ignored it for a year or so.
Eventually I could press on the inside of my lower jaw with my tongue and feel it with my finger on the other side.
When I went in the dentist was.... shocked.... by how much pus came out.
The bone regrew though. The tooth actually was kept... dead of course. full root canal.