You won't make it to Jan 1. Assuming my rate of decline was typical. From
the onset of sensitivity to cold to a constant noticeable pain day and night
was just a few weeks. I was taking Violin the time between my making an
appointment and my turn in "the chair".  The expense was the most painful
experience of it all. I was not able to use my dental finance account for
the endontist. (See www.carecredit.com for the GE Money Bank program.) But I
was able to quickly transfer the credit card loan amount onto a 0% interest
account of a new card for x number of months. I am still paying on it.

----- Original Message -----
From: <enroper@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: sci.med.dentistry
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 6:07 PM
Subject: How long til tooth dies

<snip>

I posted about my #12, which just had a large amalgam placed and is now
very sensitive to cold. I went back to have it checked; there's no
indication that the tooth is dying - and yours might not be, either. You
may want to have your dentist recheck the tooth; my dentist offered some
treatment options (that didn't include root canal as option 1) and
you'll also know for sure if you need to save up for a root canal or not.

Please note that my anecdote is not a substitute for medical advice,
which I am urging you to get, as it may well be better news than you are
expecting.

Impossible to predict your outcome.

If you could post an x-ray of your tooth perhaps
there is some indication of the condition of the pulp.

Note that in a multi-rooted tooth one canal can have
a dying pulp and the others are not far behind.

Once the pulp starts dying the process is irreversible,
hence the term *irreversible pulpitis*.

There may be other financing options available to you.

It does sound like irreversible pulpitis, in wch case you will need
root canal treatment.  You should ask your dentist for an evaluation
and a diagnosis.  

IF it is irreversible pulpitis you will need RCT.  Your dentist may
offer to perform an emergency pulpectomy (removal of the nerve and
initial debridement of the root canal spaces), and possibly pack the
space with CaOH2 (what I usually do if I'm not going to finish it
right away), and temporize the crown.  This will remove the pulp, get
you comfortable, and hopefully stabilize the tooth until the root
canal and the restoration can be completed.  There  may be some other
variables, and complications cannot be entirely ruled out, but this
usually works.  How long?   If done successfully, at least 6 months.
Just be careful chewing on the tooth until the work is finished to
avoid fracture of the crown.

If you do nothing, and the nerve dies and is not cleaned out you risk
an abscess.  How long till the nerve dies?  No one can say.  Usually
the pulp dies within a few weeks after a contaminated pulp exposure,
but it can linger on for years, especially since yours is a
multi-rooted tooth.  And when it does die you risk abscess, with all
the possible sequelae.

Jim