Hi Trisha,

I can imagine your distress. It's hard to say exactly what maybe happening with that tooth. Sounds like a sensitive (or perhaps injured) nerve and the pain can readily travel through the jaw and elsewhere, not always confined to the tooth. It's when the nerve is dying that the tooth will have to finally be removed. I am not sure how to tell if that is happening. I know that it is not uncommon to experience pain/sensitivity, particularly after dental work because of the trauma to the tooth from the procedure. And sensitivity to hold and cold.

I've heard some people after dental work have been suffering pain for MONTHS at a time. Then things can apparently settle. It is better not to eat on that side if possible (hard things anyway). You may have to wait and see how things go for awhile. I have one tooth in particular that I have trouble with on and off. Sometimes it acts up, then it settles. This happened after getting a composite redone because it was old.

Root canals are not something I"d personally recommend, having heard the risk for toxicity , but there is apparently now a another (better) way of doing them that some biologic dentists are now doing.

Here is a dental website that discusses root canals and toxicity, plus a less toxic way of doing them:

http://www.integrativedentalmedicine.com/ocalexic.html

If you could perhaps find a biologic/holistic dentist who is aware of these issues, they maybe able to suggest something for you if the pain increases or simply does not ease over time.