I just found out my #19 tooth has an abscess. I am looking at three options.?!

I just found out my #19 tooth has an abscess. I am looking at three options.?

Your experiences/knowledge of the subject would be appreciated. If you have experience with the below mentioned dental school that would be appreciated too.

I lost my dental ins about 3 years ago. I have the option of going to a dental school in Kansas City, Mo to save about 50% on cost but there is a 2-3 month waiting period.

The 3 options are as follows:
1) have the tooth pulled (#19 is a molar on the lower left jaw and it has a crown on it) for $50-85.
2) have it pulled & an implant put in. I'm told this would be over $1000 at the school.
3) have a root canal costing $500 at the school.

I'm told I can have it pulled and do an implant at a later time but there is the possibility the area if I wait too long may not hold an implant.

I have heard due to not totally sterile conditions in most dental offices (there was a bit on the nightly news about this a couple of years ago) that a root canal could actually increase the chance of infection.

Serious answers please.

I've had root canals and crowns done on two molars. I did not have dental insurance and the whole thing cost me about $3000, payable over the 4 visits necessary to get all that work done. If you can afford those payments, that, or the implant would be the best way to go. My porcelain crowns look and feel 100% natural and I am quite happy with all the work that was done.

You really don't want to get that important molar pulled and then have nothing to go in its place, it will affect your chewing ability and also might cause your teeth to shift.

A root canal won't increase your chance of infection ... you already have one, and a root canal removes the infected tooth matter. You will get antibiotics anyway.