I've had abscessed teeth, and the only 2 options I've ever known of is either to get a root canal or an extraction.
I've had both done. For an upper molar in the back, I had an extraction and chose to get a removable bridge (partial) rather than getting an implant.
I've been extremely satisfied with this. I have no problem chewing and don't feel it at all. I put it in in the morning and leave it in except for cleaning. I remove it at night.
However, that wasn't an option when I had to have 2 lower teeth extracted. We tried root canals, but they didn't work.
The removable bridges are generally a better option for top, not bottom teeth. Maybe they sometimes work on lower teeth, but I have lots of inherited excess bone on my lower gums called tori. It's a benign condition, but the bulk makes it impossible to have a removable bridge without extensive surgery.
The 2 lower teeth I had extracted were both the 2nd to the back. Actually, the tori are good because it prevents my teeth from shifting. They don't show when I smile and don't present a chewing problem, so that's okay.
All this said, I stopped having these teeth problems (knock wood!) when I started using a perio-aid toothpick holder to clean under the gum line and also a rubber gum stimulator.
These probably wouldn't be necessary if I used an electric toothbrush, but I find them uncomfortable.
Here are a couple of links. Good luck!
https://perio-aid.net/perio-aid.html
http://www.amazon.com/Gum-Butler-G-U-M-Stimulator-Pack/dp/B00ELM6WRI/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1429810385&sr=1-1&keywords=rubber gum stimulator