Shroom, has your dentist tested the tooth for the infection in question? There is a simple test that can be done to see if you have the infection to begin with. There is also another test out there (my friend talks about all the tests in her manuscript) that can tell if there is hidden infection in the gums as well as determining if you are allergic to any of the alloys or porcelains that they put back in the tooth, i.e. gold, silver, porcelain. As soon as I find my copy of the manuscript, I'll give you the exact names of the test.