Dear Andrew,

I saw my dentist to-day who confirmed that I have a tooth abscess. I am taking antibiotics, the pain has been simply awful. It is a lower canine. My options are: root canal or extraction. The tooth itself has no decay. As I have advanced gum disease (I have regular hygiene treatment), the gum is quite receded and this particular tooth has grade 1 to grade2 mobility. Deep down, I don’t like to think of the possible loss of the tooth, I work diligently on my dental hygiene. Having said that, financially I would only be able to afford the root canal on the tooth and not a crown and I think of the possible future brittleness of the tooth, although a crown was not mentioned. Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated. One moment I think – extraction – problem gone, the next I think, root canal – try to save the tooth. Long message, but thank you again Andrew.