Brent,
I am not a dentist by any means but had a very similar thing several years ago. Except my gums had actually grown up through the cavity and over the edges. I had to go to an oral surgeon and he immediately told me that the tooth had to come out. He cut the gum away from the tooth and pulled it as he told me that trying to fill it or do a root canal was just putting off the having to pull it. Maybe with the newer technology they can do it and not have any problems later. Best of luck either way as it needs something done.
Ron
