To avoid a root canal just have the tooth removed. IMO if it's that bad the tooth isn't worth saving.

The process from them rotting is very slow(takes months). Better decide what you wanna do now.

Holy shit, MONTHS? Why's that?

I'm probably going to have to get it done during Spring Break, which is in a few months. >( It totally blows though; It's my baby tooth, and there isn't an adult tooth anywhere (though I think it's because of malpractice by a dentist several years ago)

Damnit, now I'm depressed again (and this is completely off-topic; sorry)

Very slow? Um, think again mate. If it's clearly cavitated and looking like a piece of mush, chances are that you're gonna encounter some seriously sharp, throbbing pains very soon, if not already. And extractions aren't always the best route to follow, especially if that tooth is an important one (ie. your back molars, excluding the wisdoms). You limit your options in the future if you take out every one that comes along; do you really want a crap partial denture in your early life? You know they only make your oral health WORSE.

By the way, I'm a dental student, so give me holler if you've got any queries that you're too afraid (of forget) to discuss with your own practitioner. Hope I didn't scare you much, but you need to know what's really going on I think.

Torte. Restoration cannot save my molars.

And not being too specific about my dental problem since it might scare people >_>.

You one of those folks with many supernumeraries?

Regarding the news, 'tis a sad story indeed. Dental health is not to be trifled with, it seems.