ginkgo123

Hi, I'm new to this board but i'm having a pretty big problem with one of my teeth. Basically, one of my canines doesn't have a replacement adult tooth so I still have the deciduous tooth. However, a few years back, when I was 17, I was told that the tooth needed a root canal but that I probably would only have it for another few years after that because the tooth has a small root and is weak because it's not an adult tooth. So I went ahead with the root canal and everything was fine until now. A few months ago I started to notice that the tooth was a little discolored and sensitive. However, there was no real pain. Now, there is still no pain, but a few days ago I felt some pressure over the tooth so I looked in the mirror and saw what looked like an abscess over the tooth, and the whole area around it is swolen and has a somewhat bumpy texture. I gently touched the abcess and it popped, and now it has been draining a little. I know I need to go to the dentist but I'm so scared that I won't ever have a normal smile. I'm also nervous because the gum tissue does not look normal, and I don't know if it has been like that for a while but I just havent noticed. It looks kind of like I have sand under my gum. Could this be from irritation or infection? This is very localized, the rest of my gums and teeth are totally normal. I know it's time to lose the tooth and I'm really upset about it. I could really use some reassuring from anyone who has gone through something similar, even someone to tell me that I will be able to go back to school with somewhat of a normal smile even with a temporary denture? Please help, to add to this I'm scared to death of going to the dentist.

- Worried and sleepless in NY