I am in a similar situation as my AH's chronic back pain led to his prescription drug addiction. The discs are still slipped. It is in remission right now. There are no guarantees that it won't act up tomorrow. There is nothing preventing him from calling his back dr. today and renewing his prescription. He, too, has terrible teeth and often requires extensive dental work. But, he is a big boy. He knows that in any situation a narcotic could be involved. I refuse to think about what he would do in such situations. I refuse to worry about the what ifs. Focusing on what he would or wouldn't do will simply undo all the months of therapy and work that I have put in towards detaching and focusing on me.