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Dental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Pain After Root Canal
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Questions in the Dental Health forum are answered by Dr. Jerome Tsang and Dr. Jerome Bogin. Topics covered include bridges, cavities, crowns, and x-rays.

Pain After Root Canal

by Sfsimonson, Aug 21, 2005 12:00AM
I had a root canal about 2 weeks ago on a rear upper molar. The dentist did it in two visits. The first visit, he removed the root. I had a fair amount of pain in the area afterwords that subsided in  3 or 4 days. I went back for the final filling a week later. Once the numbness wore off from the final fill I was in horrid pain.  I returned for pain killers and applied heat which helped. The constant pain has subsided, but I am left with severe sensitivity in the roof of my mouth.  If I drink a cold liquid, the tooth starts hurting. If I hold the liquid in my mouth, wow! It is like fireworks are going off in my head. The pain is somewhat delayed, slowly growing about 10 seconds after I apply the liquid or food. Heat also will cause this pain, though it is not as severe. The fireworks last for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, and the tooth is annoyed for about 15 minutes.  The pain seems to come from slightly above my tooth, not really in my tooth. The dentist doesn't seem to quite understand what I am trying to communicate to him, heh, he has said more than once that I should not be having pain. Any ideas on what could cause this since I have no root in the tooth? I don't think the actual root canal "messed up" because after the first procedure, I was ok.

by Jerome Bogin, D.D.S. , Aug 22, 2005 12:00AM
It is unusual that you would be having discomfort from cold after the RCT.If anything you would expect the cold to ease the pain if the nerve had been necrotic at the onset of the treatment. Is it possible that there is another tooth in the area that might be the culprit. Is this doctor a Endodontist--if not then a consult with one might be in order. Also make sure that the tooth in question be taken out of occlusion so that you are not biting on it.
Member Comments (2)

by Sfsimonson, Aug 22, 2005 12:00AM
That was something that my dentist suggested, but that seems odd to me considering it developed as my numbness wore off that day.  Also, the tooth next to this one, and below this one, have been root canaled. My ear has developed pain on that same side.  Also, this tooth is tender if I chew with it or tap on it. Another thing I wonder about is that during the second procedure, as he was going in with the little filling sticks, twice he pressed into my canal, and I felt pain in my cheek and ear through the numbness. That is one reason I am scared to go back ;P I went back on Friday and he came at me with the needle, and I wouldn't let him touch me and ended up walking out, lol. I am supposed to go back and try again today....I am such a chicken........
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