Is implant the best solution?

[wunbun]

My molar was treated for root canal in 2006.  18 months after that, I started noticing a "bubble" on the gum above the tooth, as well as some minor pain and numbness in the area.  The bubble would come and go.

I went back to my Endodontist for a re-examination, and she said there's nothing wrong with the root canal, and suggested that I go see a Periodontist.  The periodontist noticed some bone loss, and did an Osteoplasty on the tooth to fill in some bone.  A year after the Osteoplasy, I noticed a bubble + pain + numbness again, went back to the Periodontist, he said it might just be some food particle getting into my gum pocket, and suggested that I do a few sessions of root planning.  Did that.  

Six months later (last week), I went to another Periodontist to get a second opinion.  He said that the pocket on the gum is deep, and the x-ray shows that there's still bone loss.  He recommended me to go back to my endodontist to re-evaluate the site again, if there's nothing wrong with the root canal then there's got to be a crack in the tooth, it cannot be anything else.

I have three questions:
1) If my endodontist still sees nothing wrong with the root canal, is there anything I should do before having my molar removed (and have an implant)?
2) The (second) periodontist says I should have my gum open to check for cracks first before removing the tooth, but even if none is seen, there's got to be one.  So is there any point to open my gum to check then?
3) If my molar is indeed cracked, is there an urgency to remove it?  The pain isn't that bad for now.

Thanks!

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

I suppose you can do that with removing the tooth and placing it back in.  It can heal up that way.  Imagine if your front tooth fell out after an accident, sometimes we place them back in although it'd require a root canal.  In your case, it already does.  I wouldn't personally do anything like that but its an option.  

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Your situation is a bit complicated due to the various opinions you have from each doctor.  If it is cracked, its probably better to remove it because it can continue to cause problems to the tooth or possibly to the jawbone. You might want to call the endodontist and let him know whats going on and see if he wants to evaluate you again.  In an ideal world, they would all call each other to discuss the findings and figure out what to do.  You might want your general dentist to quarterback that type of situation for you so that you can get his professional advice.

[wunbun]

Thank you Dr. Tsang.

[wunbun]

Thank you Dr. Tsang.  I went back to my Endodontist and he said that it's not a root canal problem, and he pretty much agreed with what the Periodontist had said.  He also said that if it doesn't bother me, I can leave the tooth there even if it's indeed fractured until the situation gets worse.  

I also learned that, I can have the tooth taken out (completely) and see if it is cracked, and if it's not, I can have it put back.  Is this true?  I had never heard of anything like this before.  Thank you.