About a month ago I was experiencing throbbing pain in one of my back molars. The pain radiated through my gums and the rest of my teeth, sometimes spreading to my jaw. It was unbearable and made eating impossible. The tooth now has a big decayed hole in it. I could literally poke it with a toothpick and reach my gums through the tooth.

About 6 months ago the same tooth needed a filling but the decay was not that bad. I held it off because I didn't want to opt for the cheaper mercury option but I could not afford the composite filling. The tooth never bothered me up until a month ago.

I went to the dentist and he x-rayed my teeth. He said that it was infected but the infection had not gone too deep into the nerve yet I needed a root canal anyway. He also said I needed a crown. At this point the pain was unbearable and I was taking painkillers to numb the pain (which would at times disappear). I went to another dentist for a second opinion two weeks ago and got a similar answer.

I have now been dabbing the area with oregano oil for the past week and have not changed my diet. While the tooth is still sensitive and tender, the pain has almost disappeared. It no longer feels inflamed or swollen, and I can sleep through the night without being disturbed by the discomfort. Does this sound like the infection has cleared up? When I look closely at my tooth it seems to have partially discolored with a grey-ish tint streak on its edge, but I'm concerned that the infection has now spread to the nerve.

I know I should revisit the dentist for another check up but I don't want to be told that I still need a root canal when the tooth is potentially healing.

Any opinions/suggestions?