Molar Removal on top of impacted wisdom tooth- Please help

[Tammy H]

I have some type of infection in my bottom molar (the last one)I have had dull throbbing for about 6 months, but now it is hurting really bad. I have an impacted wisdom tooth below it which I have had several conflicting professional opionions on whether or not to remove.  I'm 34.

I seem to have really bad luck with dental procedures. A simple filling landed me in the ER with my face swollen so severly that my eyes swelled shut. I had my upper wisdom teeth (not impacted) removed 6 months ago and despite the fact that I don't smoke, take oral contraceptives, I ended up with a horrible case of dry socket that lasted a week and felt even worse than childbirth without pain meds. I was completely put out of commission for weeks.

I have switched dentists several times and I do trust the one that I have now, but I still don't know what to do. He recommends that I have a root canal, but I am terrified of doing it. I wonder how it will affect the impacted wisdom tooth below it, and I worry that after I spend $2,500 that I don't have(I have to go to sleep during it. I'm a huge sissy)to have this done if I will end up having to have extraction anyway.    

I'm afraid of the teeth shifting and getting dry socket again if I have an extraction.

Any advice would be appreciated greatly.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

I can not diagnosis the origin of your pain. If the second molar is the culprit then I do not think the RCT will effect the impacted third molar. Dry sockets are relatively infrequent{Thank goodness} so I don't think you can anticipate one.I do not suggest extractions of impacted third molars after a certain age unless there are radiographic evidence of pathology or there are  symptoms that make it necessary to extract the tooth.

[Tammy H]

I know everyone says that having an extraction will cause the other teeth to eventually shift. My bottom teeth are so overly crowded now anyway. I just wish I knew what to do. I would prefer to have my oral surgeon do the work whatever it is, but I'm pretty certain that they don't do root canals.