I have a root canal that has an infection around it.

Question

It's not an old root canal. It's about 2-3 years old. I started to get an abscess on my upper gum above it, a small round bump the shape of a pencil eraser. It's tender, but not throbbing.

I went to my dentist and they took an x-ray of it and saw that there is a dark, thin line around the root canal (infection). My dentist tells me right away "YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE THAT TOOTH! WE HAVE TO PULL IT TODAY!" He wanted to pull it out and put in a temporary for an implant. The total cost on that is almost $6k. I've already had this dentist do $11k worth of work on my teeth 2 yrs ago. Bridges, root canals,veneers...he wanted to do an implant way back on my upper right side where I don't even need one. There's no more teeth back there on the bottom.

I told him that I just wanted to take some antibiotics and get rid of the infection and try to do another buildup and root canal on the tooth. The tooth is strong and almost in my front teeth (tooth behind the incisor). When I said that, he calmed down and said "Well, yeah, we could do that...you could take antibiotics and come back. We'll take another x-ray then and see if we can do another buildup in that tooth". That will cost $1k which I would much rather pay. But, he's really trying to get me to agree to the implant procedure. He did give me some antibiotics and I'm taking them as prescribed.

Might be a silly question, but I've got to ask it....should I get a 2nd opinion?

Answer 1

If you are losing rapport with him, it is a fair thing to do.........

Answer 2

i would if i were u because this guy seems like he just wants ur money.

Answer 3

Second opinions never hurt.  

Answer 4

you should definitely get a second opinion,

especially when it is considering the amount

of money your dentist is telling you you'll have

to pay.

Answer 5

definitely  go to another dentist, alot of dentists now see that you have the money to do all that and they are going to try to get you to do the most expensive option, that you may not even need to do. I would never take an implant over your real tooth even if you have to do work on it. also mention there is an option to do an I know this will probably not be spelled right but it is called an apicolectomy. it is where they can cut open you jaw bone and drain the infection out. yhis may be an option it does not work for everybody but I would ask. and then he will now youy have been looking into it and he my stop B/S you. because it does not go from an implant to oh yeah anti-biotics that quick. that is a HUGE difference!  

Answer 6

First you need a new dentist. It sounds like all he wants is your money, many dentists are like that these days. Usually if the root canal is done right there should not even be an infection but these things do happen. I would go to another dentist and at least get a second opinion.