OPTIONS, BUT NONE OF THEM GREAT

First, the good news: I found a free standing Arby’s in front of the new Target on Westheimer and I had to explain to the guy at Home Depot that I knew the difference between spackle and joint compound. I like going to home improvement stores and showing off.

Now onto the other news:

I got little sleep last night as the pain pills did very little to knock back the pain. Fortunately, I think the antibiotics are starting to work, so there’s hope that the pain will subside soon.

I loved the endodontist I saw this morning. He was very honest and talked me through what the problem really is. He could have just done the procedure, collected his money, and I’d be home taking big pills and talking to inanimate objects, but instead he gave me some options to think over instead.

I could clearly see on the x-rays where the infection was in the bone and why it’s so painful and how my roots curve under (digital x rays on the computer and they were so clear and it was so cool). I could see where the previous dentist had not penetrated the root fully and where the crown he made was too short and was letting stuff in to get infected.

My options are:

1) a complete reworking of the root canal and crown, very expensive out of pocket and not guaranteed to work. He said 50/50 chance and even then he would do it if I decided to, but he really, truthfully wouldn’t recommend it.

2) a very, very expensive implant which he said still might not be a great idea.

3) pull the tooth.

I’m leaning toward #3, but I have a week to go in taking the antibiotics, so I have a few days to think it over. I stayed home rather than going into work to take more pills and rest and try to decide what I’ll do.