Anyone with tooth knowledge around?

[Bloodytooth]

How is it possible to have 'the beginnings of infection' at the root of a back molar, when the tooth itself and the gum around it are in perfect condition? -This is according to my dentist. There was a small shadow around the root of the tooth on an x-ray. He says it's going to need dealing with..

I had this with one of mine. I took a course of antibiotics and refused to have it treated. It was x rayed every 6 months and it was 4 years before I actually had any trouble from it. The shadow never went away but it didn't get bigger either. Eventually it did start to hurt and the shadow on it got bigger and I had a root canal and it has now gone quiet again and stayed that way for the last year so fingers crossed.