Do you think my teeth could've been saved?

[my3mdjz]

I was wondering...I had a severe toothache about 2 yrs ago on one of my rear molars on the left side.  The tooth became infected, jaw swelled, etc.  Due to the excruciating pain, I went to the dentist seeking some relief.  After doing the xray, the dentist confirmed that it was infected but said that he could pull it. (I thought he was to prescribe some anti-biotics and have me return.)  It had broken a few months prior and he said this would be the best solution.  I didn't know you could pull a tooth when it was infected, but he said as long as you're careful and know what you're doing it okay.  He then began to squeeze the infection (puss) out, pulled the tooth, and then pulled the tooth in front of it because he said that one was infected too.  I now have a huge space on the bottom row and wished I didn't let him do the work.  I believe I was put in a worse off situation with him pulling those teeth.  Can you offer any suggestions on what I should have done now.  Help, I don't want to look like "yuck mouth" in a few years when my teeth start to shift to fill the empty space.  (sorry so long)  :-)

[FrankEast]

A related discussion, have an abscessed tooth under a fixed bridge was started.

[my3mdjz]

Thanks for the response.  I'll be trying to find a good dentist soon.  Someone looking out for my best interest and not the deepest pocket.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

You have what seems to be two options--you can replace the teeth with implants and then build teeth on them or relpace the teeth with a removable partial denture. The difference in the two ways to replace the teeth are drastic in comfort and fees. Not seeing any x-rays or the rest of your mouth it would be impossible to give you any indication on which road to take.