alternative to a root canal?

[handzfull]

I was wondering what info you all can share about alternatives to root canals. I am aware of Weston Price and the traditional diet and am trying to convert my diet to that way of eating. My problem is that I have a very sore tooth, after having a filling 2 weeks ago. The pain is along the entire bottom jawline, not just that tooth. The dentist said it's either an abscess (which means automatic root canal in his mind) or just an temporarily inflamed nerve from my grinding of my teeth. Anyway, I don't want a root canal at all and want to know about what you all know about the whole issue. I don't know if this makes sense. But thanks for any advice you have...

[calgal1111]

Hi I think I have a fairly one-sided argument here as I was an endodontic dental assistant for many years before I became a stay at home mom.

If the nerve tissue inside the tooth is dead there truly isn't much else to do other than a root canal for this reason... When the nerve dies there is no longer any way for blood to circulate into that tooth that is why antibiotics only work for a while and then it gets worse again because the body can't circulate that medicine into the pulp space. When the pulp (nerve) is dead long enough it will create an abscess which eats away at your jaw bone (not good). And truly in that instance you have only two options Root canal or extraction.

It is also possible that it is still an inflammatory response from the filling so keep following up on it. It may or may not go away.

If I may ask what your reasoning is for not wanting the root canal?

I hope this is helpful to you, good luck!

[SleeplessMommy]

What Calgal said.

Your choices are root canal or extraction. (Though if you are lucky maybe it is an inflamed nerve or a local reaction to the filling.)

There was a fatality in Maryland a few years ago, a boy who had significant delay in getting dental care for a root problem and ended up with a brain infection.

[GoBecGo]

The only alternative i was ever offered was extraction (which i took because i was pregnant and would have to have antibiotics on and off through the pregnancy until i could have the x-rays needed for the root canal done, or a blind root canal which my dentist said he'd do for me if i wanted but if he were me he'd have the extraction).

Root canals are really good nowadays, my ex recently had to have 4 or 5 done. He had one done about 17 years ago and was REALLY scared to "go through" it again, but the whole process this time was calm, painless and fine and his crowns look great.