I've been having tremendous pain for the last 10 days on the bottom last molar on my right side. I have an appointment with an endodontist on Tuesday (he was on vacation - perfect timing).

I've been taking painkillers, and I just started a round of Amoxicillin today. My dentist prescribed it in case I needed it.

I was up all last night - pain, which usually comes in waves, stays for an hour and then returns every other hour or so, started at 11pm and didn't let up till 5am - it felt like there was something pushing my tooth deep into the gum-pretty bad pain. I've had a deep cavity in it, that was filled 3 years ago, and it's been sensitive to hot and cold ever since.

I don't know how far the infection has spread but the right part of my tongue, as well as my ear and my jaw, and part of my throat are sore and tender.

Should i root canal it, or pull it? I'm leaning towards the latter, but I'm worried about extrusion of the top tooth into that space (does that really happen, and if teeth can grow like that, why can't they repair decay on their own? ... I don't get it)...my teeth were aligned with braces when I was 12 (I'm 26 now), so I don't want to mess up the alignment - but it's not like anyone, except me, would know this tooth was missing...but how likely are the ill effects of tooth removal? Help!

In pain!