Q: My dentist insists I get a root canal on a tooth that is pain free, but "looks abscessed on the X-ray." He even went as far as to tell me I could "wind up in the hospital" if I ignore it. Is this just to scare me into paying him more money? - Louie in Delray
A: Well Louie, when Dr. Sal my gastroenterologist begs me to undergo a colonoscopy, even though "nothing hurts," I am sure he can find better ways to make a buck than explore my better side with his "body-flossing" camera. Many root canals are needed to save a tooth that suffers from a chronic (painless) abscess vs. an acute abscess. These are often identified upon X-ray or by a series of pulp tests which determine whether the nerve has died in a tooth. Almost 8,000 patients are hospitalized each year for dental abscesses with an average hospital bill of $13,590. For more info on this subject or any other dental topic, contact our office at 239-936-5252.