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Can it take a long time over 2 months for a tooth to heal from a root canal?

Can it take a over 2 months for a tooth to heal from a root canal?  In August of 07 I had part of a filling fall out of a first pre molar tooth.  I was on vacation, so I went to a dentist who put in a new filling and a pin, it was a pretty large filling.  I had funny sensations in the tooth right after the novacaine wore off, but not pain.  I went to my regular dentist, who advised me to have a crown done, because this was a "very large filling" and the sensations were becoming dull and achey.  In Feb 08 I had the crown done.  After a few weeks I was still experiencing the dull achey feelings, my dentist sent me to an endodontist.  After an evaluation, the endodontist said I needed a root canal.  I had the root canal done on March 4th 2008.  After the root canal I had more pain then I had before the root canal.  After several treatments of antibiotics, my endo offered to retreat.  I was retreated June 25 2008 and July 21 2008.  I felt some improvement about 3 weeks after the first visit on June 25th, so my endo put the permament filling in on June 21 st.  I have some improvement but sometimes by the end of a day my tooth is really sore and achey.  Somethimes I have to take 3 advil just to take the edge off.  I will even have soreness in my gums,bone above the tooth.  I have noticed it improving but extremely slowly.  I usually don't take this long to heal.   Since its been a little over 2 months, I'm wondering if this normal for it to take so long for all of the pain to go away.  I've been putting up with this tooth for over a year and I'm loosing my patience.  I don't know what else can be done, my endo said everything looked excellent on the xray, he checked the tooth with a microscope for a what seemed like a long time for any cracks and said he didn't see any, he didn't think the pin could be causing the problem and that it may just take time to heal because the tooth had a "short" root.  I don't know if I should just be patient and wait for the healing to take place, have another endo look at it or have it pulled, which I really don't want to do.  Thank-you
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530183 tn?1213083679
If I may just add something which may help you with your problem M549, I too have had trouble with a bottom molar that had root canal treatment performed on it through the earlier months of this year.    The tooth would not settle and my regular dentist sent me to an endodontist to have the whole root canal redone.   My endo did the first stage of treatment back in May of this year and discovered live nerve tissue under the crown and also in one of the canals due to calcified blockages.   After this first stage he wanted to leave the tooth alone for at least 3 whole months before he continued with the final stage of treatment.   As he explained, teeth will only put up with so much before they start to "talk back" and this was the second root canal performed on it in quite a short space of time.  Well he actually ended up waiting 4 months before the second treatment was completed and the permanent filling was put on.   The tooth was a LOT happier after it was simply left alone.   From the dates that you wrote about, it seems that your tooth has been worked on frequently and is "talking back".   Every bit of work that is performed, no matter how small, is like a trauma to the tooth.   My endo has now completed the treatment just 2 weeks ago and wants to check on me in December to make sure it's 100% happy.   I am starting to chew more and more different foods on the tooth; like you it still lets me know that I may need to continue to take it easy on it for a couple more months but I am confident this will gradually disappear as everything calms completely down.   I do sympathize with you.....one tooth can seem to drive you crazy when so much treatment drags on and on.   Good luck and I sincerely hope all your tooth needs is to be left alone to calm down and recover completely from all the treatment it's received.
Helpful - 2
580153 tn?1225850111
hi,
just wanted to share briefly my similar experience:

i had a root canal that was done improperly, and two years passed before i finally said enough is enough and switched dentists.. then voila..the problem was found and the procedure was re-done in november of last year..

it definitely took longer than two months (more like 4 or 5 in my case) for my mouth to heal and the subsequent symptoms to subside..

as far as the pain i was experiencing prior to the fix, i felt it daily in my upper jaw (tooth 12 was the root canal) spreading outwards on my entire left side of my face, and into my ear.. i felt numbness, tingling, the works.  

i, too, had to take prescription pain killers just to take the edge off, and i am normally the type who doesn't even take a tylenol for a headache.  i feel your pain!

it will get easier for you.  the pain will gradually decrease. don't give up.. just give it a little more time, and do plenty of heat and ice therapy - i found that filling a snack size ziploc bag with frozen peas, and holding it on the area was the best remedy :)

oh, and a BIG one!  TAKE PROBIOTICS.  friendly bacteria... i truly think that helped me recover, and i continue taking it to this day.
Helpful - 1
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
So a root canal was done on your tooth 3 times already?  And the pain is still present.  Has the pain improved since the last retreatment?  If it hasn't improved or has gotten worse, I would recommend seeking another opinion on the matter.  

I understand your frustration with your situation.  It seems that everything was done properly and as long as its healing, I would recommend being patient with the situation.
Helpful - 1
540545 tn?1377622918
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It should be painfree by now I would imagine.  Two months is plenty of time for the infection to be cleared.  Have you done a course of antibiotics already since the re-treatment?  If so, another course may not help.  Generally antibiotics are somewhat useful for dental problems but only in conjunction with dental treatment such as a root canal/cleanings, etc.  

You may want to seek a second opinion on the matter.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for your response.  The root canal was actaully done twice.  The pain has only improved slightly.  I've tried to chew very soft foods on the tooth and the pain returns, it takes at least a week and advil to subside.  The tooth is not sensitive to hot or cold.  It feels sore and achey when disturbed, even talking will cause pain.   Do you think it might be an infection?  Should I ask my endo for a course of antibiotics?  
Thank-you.
Helpful - 0

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