I think I would want some guidance from the dentist on the best course of action here. Usually treating the infection first is the bets way because the site is enclosed and removing the tooth means letting the infection out of that area which can cause other problems. Thats what my dentist told me and why she wanted to treat my infection with antibiotics before performing the extraction.

Perhaps the question is the level of pain and whether you can cope with it and wait until you finish the new course? If you can, then a more routine extraction seems a good way to deal with it as there is less chance of the infection spreading BUT I really think that is something the dentist is best placed to advise you on as he will understand the impact of that far more than any of us will.

I agree with ricardo about the pain not subsiding under anesthetic. I know we are more sensitised to pain when anxious but I can't see that being able to override a strong anesthetic which cuts off all sensation. Your 2nd dentist's explanation sounds more plausible. Many people are anxious when they go to the dentist. For the first time in having a tooth out I needed a second injection but it numbed up fine then and I was severe in terms of my anxiety back then.

I know what you mean about the hospital. I was faced with that prospect as very little of my wisdom tooth was still above the gumline so I was praying he could grip it enough to extract it as I didn't want to wait months.

My infection pain reduced after a few days but then a few days after the course finished, it came back. I was due to see my GP anyway so asked him and he just gave me a longer course of the same one which did the trick. The pain with the infection was worse than the tooth alone but I've had worse. Like ricardo says, it's usually afterv 48 hours that you see improvement as antibiotics halt the infection first and then reduce it so you find the pain seems to rapidly drop off.