Hi Jeffrey,

The pain is bad because there is an infection and possibly a fracture. As I said earlier, sometimes fractures are difficult to see on a typical dental xray. However, this problem is not something that is going to get better on it's own and the infection can spread to other teeth and further into the jawbone. It is imperative to see your dentist asap.

Your options may be root canal therapy or extraction. Root canaled teeth are never cured of the infection and they eventually need to be retreated or removed. However, it is your personal choice to have that done or not. If the tooth/teeth are fractured, root canal therapy is completely worthless even for any short term relief. I know this is not what you want to hear... unfortunately it is the truth.

Extracting the tooth/teeth remove the source of the infection and your replacement options may be either a bridge or dental implants. Just so you know... if the infection spreads from the tooth/teeth into the jawbone, the replacement options become more limited and complicated.

Jeffrey, please do not wait to see your dentist. I know you are upset over this, but it is not going to get better on it's own.

Please keep in touch with us!

Bryanna