And the award goes to...

MISTY!  

For best dental check-up!

We went back to our local horse doc today for our last, final, concluding, determinate vet  visit since this whole tooth ordeal began four and a half months ago.  

The vet and the tech discussed checking Misty without sedation.  They decided, "Yes, let's try it because she's been such a good girl."  So they inserted the dental speculum and flushed Misty's mouth.  Misty stood patiently while the vet reached in and examined the empty socket...and declared it good!

The socket is granulated up to the gum line. 

There is no putrid odor. 

External facial swelling has decreased to almost normal. 

Misty can go back to work.

I'm not wasting any time.  I'm taking my girl to a clinic on Saturday and then taking her back to her trainer on Sunday.  I'll probably just do ground work at the clinic and will play it by ear on some very light riding.  And Misty's trainer will begin easing her back to work and put some finishing on her.  And maybe, just maybe, I'll get to go on a few trail rides before it starts snowing.

Here are the final pictures of the tooth as it was removed in stages.

Left to right:  The slab fracture removed in March, the pieces that broke apart when my local vet tried to extract the remainder of the tooth in May, and finally the rotten root portion that was removed via Steinmann Pin Repulsion in June.

The dentist who performed the repulsion said this hole was not made by the Steinmann Pin.  It might have been caused by decay and abscess.  Interesting. 

THE END

(I hope, I pray)