Re: Abscess-Methods of treatment besides extraction, extraction and bridge, or root canal and new crown?
No.
Those are the only options.
There are alternatives to the bridge to fill the space after an extraction. Leave a space. Plastic denture. Chrome-cobalt denture. Maryland Bridge. Conventional bridge. Implant. Covers all the bases I think.
You have to remove the cause of the abscess, which is the bacteria inside the tooth, and to prevent a reaction from your immune system, the dead bacteria that now line the inside of the
root canal need removing too.
So either the tooth is removed wholesale (ie extract it) or remove the majority of the bacteria and the dead bacterial toxin lining (ie
root canal therapy).
Pretty clear cut really.
You'll waste your time with that phone call, as the only alternative view you already know from this forum: some people believe that the remaining bacteria form a focal point that causes other infections in the body.
Choose which one you want to believe, and take your choice from the options listed above.
You would be best doing some searching for evidence to come to that conclusion. Firstly I would go on a course on how to evaluate research papers, so that you have some 'critical reading' skills.
You'll then be in a position to discount the focal theory of infection.
J (#37528)
A dentist in England