Details (and some trivial help)

Is it a molar that hurts? Just one tooth?

Check out this web site for info. Well written.
www.doctorspiller.com/understanding_pain.htm

Basically there is one nerve and it branches out to individual teeth. So if you have pain in one tooth, the problem can be in another tooth connected to the same nerve. This nerve also goes to the ear, eyes, and parts of the skull. Great site.

My biggest concern is that you may extract the WRONG tooth.
There is a good 5 step diagnosis to find which tooth is responsible and if the nerve is to blame.

Also if the nerve is to blame it doesn't necessarily mean it is dying.

From what I’ve read...

Have them do an electrical stimuli. This will send a pulse to the tooth (nerve). I don't quite get how to read it. I think the idea is that if the nerve can effectively and efficiently feel it then it’s not "dead".

It could the filling, it could be a crack, it could be an infection, it could be a million other things.


It seems some people are rather non chelant about killing the nerve as soon as a suspicion of the nerve being the culprit is aroused.

G's... how about finding out why the nerve is "angry". If it is infected... I am not a doctor...but I would think since it is still "alive" and still connected to the blood supply... Antibiotics would do the trick. I believe...it is only the nerve and hence the "tooth" is killed and filled...is it a time that Antibiotics can't help with an infection since there is no more blood supply to the tooth.


Try some warm saltwater mouth rinses throughout the day. The salt is absorbed by the gums and it kills bacteria effectively. I am not sure if it would help with the pulp. I think Antibiotics would be needed for that.

Also massage the gum(s) that hurt until they don't. Make sure your finger is CLEAN. Tap the tooth and follow up by a thorough saltwater rinse.