Can a tooth usually be saved if it has an abscess? i have an extremely painful abscessed tooth that i'm going to see my dentist about in two days. i'm really worried that i will lose the tooth, and would rather have a root canal or almost anything else th

As : As dr mcleod advised, the tooth should be able to be saved. Dentists go to many years of school to learn how to save and restore teeth. We do not want to extract them, knowing the headaches the patient will have over time with teeth missing. Allow your dentist to evaluate your specific problem and advise you of the best course of treatment. Then, make sure you follow up with regular visits to monitor all of your teeth.

What : What determines whether a tooth is savable or not is the amount of tooth that remains after all the decay is removed and the amount of bone support that is holding the tooth in. If both are sufficient then the tooth would most likely be savable. It may need a root canal, post and or crown to restore it. A periodontal procedure would be necessary if there is not enough tooth sticking out of your gum.

I : I congratulate you for knowing the importance of saving teeth as opposed to unnecessary extraction. Without an exam and x-ray it's hard to know your exact situation but in most cases you can opt for a root canal instead of losing your tooth. This will depend on the extent and nature of the abcess and the amount of tooth structure left. Stick with the concept of saving it if possible.

Usually : Usually it can be saved. It depends on the cause of the abcess.

YES : Yes teeth can often be saved after they get an abscess. You just make sure that you let the dentist know that you want to save the tooth and you want it saved now. As long as ther is adequate bone to support the tooth and that toe root is not fractured, gthere is no reason to fear that the toot will need to be removed. Get an x-rays and measure the gum pockets and get a proper diagnosis. Dr neil mcleod dds dentistry that lasts - quality that counts.

Insufficient info: Depends on the remaining tooth structure, occlusal load, supporting bone and tissue condition, and degree of infection, among other things. It seems that you suffer from every dental condition known - i wonder if you are just asking questions, because some things don't add up condition wise. Questions are O.K., though. :-).