Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 12/7/2006

Question
Hi Dr Bornfeld.

It appears I had an infection near one of my back molars.  I was given some penicillin which feels like it has removed the infection.  My dentist took X-Rays and I don't think they saw anything wrong in the X-Ray.  I was told by my DMO dentist that I should get a root canal on that molar.  I do recall that I used some old used floss a couple of times which I think may have caused my infection (will not do that again).  
This is the first time I had a problem ever with my teeth.  I really don't want to have a root canal if it's not necessary.  To verify I really do need a root canal what is the ramification of waiting to see if the infection comes back.  

Thank you,

Jason

Answer
Dear Jason,

Once an endodontic (nerve) infection has been established, there is little to gain and much to lose by delay. For one, these types of infections do not go away either by themselves or with antibiotic therapy; at best, they merely become indolent and chronic, only to return again later. Secondly, progression of an endodontic infection reduces the probability of a successful root canal result.

The important thing is whether your DMO dentist had justifiable reasons for recommending the root canal treatment, and I think you should ask him the criteria he used to reach that judgment. However, you should think long and hard before putting this issue on the back burner just yet-- these infections have a nasty way of asserting themselves at inconvenient times-- like New Year's eve.

Hope this helps...

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY