Q. Hi, I have had an reacurring abcess under one of my teeth for quite some time now (approx 3-4 years) when i say reacurring its proberbly never healed fully, when its ok the dentist says its very very small. the molar is in my lower right hand side jaw (T6 or number 19 I think) I have had two root canals done to the tooth one at first signs of symptoms and another 1-2 years ago, the tooth has a gold inlay on top of a special epoxy resin material as over two thirds of the visible tooth has been destroyed. Two weeks ago I went on holiday and the abcess flared up again for reasons unknown, I could not get medial treatment for around 5 days, as you can imagine it was quite painfull. After getting treatment (clyndamycin and nimesulide) the abcess subsided. Upon returning to the uk and seeing my dentist he has given me amoxycillin and a codine/nsaid treatment and said I “may” have a cracked or fractured root causing the abcess to not heal fully, and he suggested that removing the tooth is the best soloution. Now I do not want to get the tooth removed but the dentist says I have a quarter of an inch of material under the root and if the abcess gets down to that depth (the main nerve I think) in future it could cause more problems. Plus he has said the germs in the abcess might get resistant to the antibiotics. I know I could have done more to aid the tooth in healing and I try but wen the pain is gone i soon go back to my old habits (smoking/drinking) and I am a VERY bad tooth grinder at night (well my girlfriend tells me anyway) I am thinking that my bad habits have caused my abcess not to heal as much as anything? I there any alternatives I can try maybe an antibiotic targeted specifically at the germs in my abcess as I understand amoxycillin is a broad-spectrum drug and as such might not have enough punch to knock out a germ that might be getting resistant to it? the only alternatives I have are a dental bridge which would sacrifice a healthy tooth (the other one is filled) or a dental implant which would be two thousand pound according to my dentist. Thanks for reading my long winded question