Hello,
I have a question regarding an issue I am experiencing and I want to gather more information about it. I will try to be detailed in this question. Last year I had root canal therapy and a crown on a decayed tooth (second molar on up left). The tooth has been hurting intermittently since then. A bump appeared above it last November, but the dentist said not to worry. I wasn't much bothered by the pain, but during my recent cleaning I was told it was not normal to have this pain. So I asked for a re-examination. After all the x-ray and all, the dentist showed me the x-ray and explained that he did the root canal on only one of the canals/roots and it seems that the other canal/root, which he did not do root canal on has become infected, created an abcess during the past year and now I need surgery. He said I shouldn't worry and it was standard. My question is two fold - is it standard in the U.S. for dentists to perform incomplete root canal therapy (I am a European transplant, so I am not sure what is right and wrong here), and next what do you think my logical options are? Are there any other possible procedures that I should ask about except for surgery? Thank you beforehand.

First of all... upper molars normally have 3 roots and occasionally 4. Here in Canada it is not normal for only one root to be treated, all 3 canals are cleaned of the diseased nerve, disinfected and then filled with a gutta percha material. Perhaps you should clarify with the American Dental Association by phoning 312-440-2500 or through email at the link below:

ADA.org: E-Mail (http://www.ada.org/ada/contact/email.asp?link=15)