Re: Root Canal, keep or pull, then what?

Hello.

If you haven't already looked, check out the root canal forum here. Here are two links from there that I contributed to that also touch on the some of the same questions you asked.

//www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=725205#i

//www.curezone.org/forums/fm.asp?i=727452#i

As to the possible problems of having a tooth pulled and not replaced with something else, the theory is fairly well propigated that this will eventually cause the surrounding teeth to move, shift, etc. For instance, if you have a bottom tooth removed and nothing put in the empty space, this will supposedly cause the tooth above to move down (grow, drop, whatever). I do not have any personal and first-hand experience to tell me if this theory is valid. Nonetheless, this theory is fairly well propigated.

I do have first-hand experience with having all Amalgams removed plus the first of 4 root canaled teeth extracted. I spent many months contemplating which option to use for after the tooth was extracted. Going with implanted false tooth was ruled out on principle. I did think long and hard about going with bridge work. Like you say, bridge work does bother (compromise) neighboring teeth. Between this factor plus the expense of bridgework (pretty pricey), I opted for partial.

One last thing. All though this may be a lot easier for me to say than for you to do, try not to freak out about this sitution. For one reason, freaking out is generally consdidered as a negative, which in this case may only be helping to make your situation worse than it really needs to be..... mind over matter kinda stuff. Having a tooth out may not seem like something for you to be thrilled about, but think about the long term benefits of being metal free. That is reason for being thrilled! Keep up the good work.

PS - in my case, I had all the Amalgams removed first, then went to work on the root canals. I do not know if there is a tried and trusted formula as to which should be done first, but this probably depends on whether or not you are already suffering serious health conditions. If you are not, then you probably have time like I did to be a little more deliberate abou this. It took about 6 weeks to get all the fillings out, after which bio dentist advised a healing period before doign the extractions. This gave me about 12 - 14 months to think about which way to go after the extractions before I actually had to decide. Having this time helped me reach a decision rather than forcing one.