Hi Vowel Lady,

Well the xray is gone now so I cannot take another look. But from what I recall, #31 appeared to have a large deep area of decay on the mesial (this surface of tooth is in between 30 and 31) and the occlusal (biting surface) portion of the tooth. It could also be a large chip off of the tooth but it looks too similar to the decay on #31. So I'm leaning towards decay.

The problem with deep decay in a tooth is that when it is all removed, the dentist has to clean beyond the decay to remove any residual bacteria. So if the pulp wasn't exposed from the decay, it is often exposed during the rest of the removal. Depending on the amount of exposure, sometimes a medicated filling can be put in to try and heal it. But the area has to be really small for that treatment to be effective. The longevity of medicated fillings varies.

If your relative is not an established patient of the dentist or she is but she rarely goes to him or has preventive dental care, and she went in because the tooth was bothering her, he may have just focused on that tooth assuming she didn't want to know about the other one. I know, that is stupid, but it happens all the time :/ The endodontist may have figured the same thing... again :/

Periodic xrays called bite wings would have detected both of these problems at the onset of the decay. That is why I assume she either avoids seeing the dentist or she avoids having xrays....or both.

Wish she was more open to her alternatives. But she has to decide what she thinks is best for her.

Bryanna