Turns out today was NOT my final dentist appointment, however they ended up tending to the literal root of all problems. There's a jutty out part of my front tooth that clashes with my lower levels, rendering it painful to do a 'resting bite'. This was the thing that got me returning to the dentist a few years back and ultimately going down the route of braces. The process mitigated it all but never outright solved the issue. I flagged it once again last session and they agreed to take a proper look at it today. I sat in the chair, they pulled out an electric file and within 45 seconds they shaved part of that tooth stun down. They asked me how it felt after. I bit down. The problem was gone.
Almost 3 years of discomfort and pain vanished in 45 seconds. That was that.