I had some bad news at my dental checkup yesterday. I had developed a swelling under my upper gum. My dentist suspected an infection and thought I might need a root canal done on a nearby tooth. Off I went to the endodontist specialist. It turns out that the tooth has cracked over time, not to mention that it has a large filling. My options were to do a root canal/crown or extraction/implant. I decided to go with extraction/implant as a longer term solution. My appointment is booked with yet another specialist (oral surgeon) for the upcoming extraction. These are the joys of getting older - not.