Went to have the extraction of a molar in lower jaw yesterday.
It was a tooth that had been bothersome for some time. My dentist started root canal work on it a few weeks ago but it was still giving me pain after the first appointment. He then went back in and found another canal, packed it etc and I was due to have the root canal finished next week. Even after this 2nd appt though I still had long term pain, so he thought the best thing was to remove it as the likelihood of the root canal working was slim.
I went yesterday for the extraction and I have to say I was a bit shocked by the process! (And I have a history of a lot of dental work in my teens so I am not easily bothered by it!) I was in there for a good 20 - 30 mins with him trying to extract the tooth. It broke off. He tried drilling it twice and SO much pressure and manipulation (the tooth didn't hurt but the pain in my jaw from pressure was awful). In the end he said he thought it was best to leave it as if he tried to get the rest of the roots out he would need to take too much of my jaw bone away if I wanted an implant later on. He said the roots weren't budging and probably fused to the jaw.
His plan is to leave the roots until they work themselves up near the surface and then take them out - in perhaps a year or so's time. Does anyone know if that sounds like the best course of action please? Since returning I have read that leaving roots in can be problematic - an infection and pain risk?? He has given me a strong 5 day course of antibiotics and I'm doing all the right things with salt mouthwash etc - but I'm really not sure on the best way forward from here? It's not what I was expecting.