Thank you Bryanna.

Unfortunately, I don't think I can live indefinitely with the pain. Well, it's not PAIN like how my other dental issues this year were. It's more like a boring, deep ache which worsens after any pressure is applied to the tooth.

So right now I am not rushing into anything, but eventually I imagine if it does not get any better pain wise or especially if it gets worse, I will have to make a decision. Do you know why my dentist has not offered to crown the tooth? At this point, after taking it out of occlusion and doing the ozone injections, he says the only options are to live with it, RCT with ozone (which I know you are not a fan of, but I am telling you my options) then a crown, or extract and do an implant.

Do you think there is any chance to work on the tooth while it is still vital? Like if he did a crown now without RCT? Or, my idea, remove the large composite fillling that is there now, check for cracks, then replace it with a medicated filling to try to calm the nerve? At first he seemed open to that idea, but then emailed me later saying that he thinks that would push it over the edge and he doesn't think it's worth trying.

I just am hoping for just one more step I can try at this point....Before making a life changing permanent decision on the tooth. Or living with chronic toothache!

Nukuspot,

The tooth is inflamed. So anything you do to it that involves drilling could put it over the edge. In order to remove the filling he has to drill it out which even if he didn't actually touch the tooth too much, just the vibration of the drilling could result in irreversible pulpitis. I think he wants to see if it will calm down on it's own and if it does then remove the filling as you said or do a crown on it. In the meantime, you are overusing the other side to chew with and dealing with an achey tooth!

I wish I had a wise remedy for you!

Bryanna

Thanks, I wish you had a magic remedy too!

He said basically either:

it will calm down by itself (though that is very unlikely given how long it's been going on) and that it may stay calm or flare back up again.

I can get a root canal with ozone (he agrees RCTs are not ideal but it is an option that he offers through a local endodontist. It is what I did with my front tooth #7 that was horribly painful this summer which was not a good candidate for implant in that space. Again, I know it was not ideal, but it was the best of few poor options I had which you remember my story, I am sure, and that pain was unbelievable.)

I can get it extracted and an implant. But that is not without risk either as the root is very close to the sinus back there and the bone level on the side where my wisdom tooth was is low.

So I don't think he is offering a crown on the vital tooth (unless a crack did appear then I am sure he would do one) or the filling replacement at all. I agree the filling replacement might put it over the edge but being these are my choices....I still wish he would reconsider it.

Thank you for all your help! So far I am trying to wait it out and see if anything will change, better or worse.