In the following image you can see that tooth No. 34 (according to the FDI World Dental Federation notation) has very few bone left around it (very dark shade = no bone):

This is why it had to be extracted today - and it looks like this:

This was no fun, I guarantee - but at least, I hope I won’t have any more pain because of bacterial infection.

Seems like I am growing old…

SMILE!

[Update from 2007-12-12]
I must say that I am beginning to feel very much better day by day since I had the tooth extracted. I sleep better, and I am not so much exhausted as before when I come home after work.

Here is something quite interesting that I just found in the MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia considering a tooth abscess:

Possible Complications

• Loss of the tooth
• Spread of infection to soft tissue (facial cellulitis, Ludwig’s angina)
• Spread of infection to the jaw bone (osteomyelitis of the mandible or maxilla)
• Spread of infection to other areas of the body resulting in brain abscess, endocarditis, pneumonia, or other disorders.

I am SO happy it’s out of my mouth!