I had some extreme sensitivity to cold on #14, and the dentist removed the old
filling and replaced it with  a sedative filing with clove oil(?)  to see if it
would calm down.   Since it didn't after a week, the dentist says I need a root
canal job followed by a crown. That is just not an option for me, since even
with insurance, the copays are beyond my reach right now, and will likely remain
that way for the next year or more.  Credit or any other kind of borrowing is
not an option, either.  So, please - no lectures about where to find the funds,
etc. It is as it is, period.

My question is - how long might I be OK with the sedative filling? I read
somewhere that the limit is 4 months, but might I get lucky and be able to buy
more time? If not, what can happen?  I guess I can imagine that it might get
infected, too painful to tolerate, or something like that, and then I'd have to
find some type of dental ER.....:-)

I'm gonna try to contact the local dental school at Nova University here in
Florida and see if they do indigent care - but if not, can I be real careful and
hope I get some more time out of the sedative filling? Maybe eat mostly on the
other side, etc....????

Thanks for any help.