Pain after Root Canal

[Robbnva]

I had a root canal and a crown placed. 1 month later there is still slight sensitivity when the tooth is touched and I feel a little bit of pain. My Dentist said it is probably a Bone Sore which I have never heard of. He put me on perscription strength Motrin 3x a day for 30 days and a Prednisone treatment for the 1st and 4th weeks of that same month. Would this be a proper treatment plan or should I be worried?

[Robbnva]

I have a couple of questions if you don't mind. I tried to post but it is locked for a couple of hours.

1. Follow up to this post. I have finished the prednisone treatment w/ motrin and the pain is basically gone. I have now tried eating on that side after not eating on it for the past month and there is still a little discomfort, it almost feels like a nerve pain. When I touch that tooth I can feel it in my gums above it, however when I touch any other tooth, including a crown on the other side (no root canal on that one) I do not feel the same kind of thing. Any ideas?

2. Is it possible for a person to not lose baby teeth? The reason I ask is basically for as long as I can remember my front 4 bottom teeth have basically been the same size, and they look smaller than the others in my mouth. I remember almost every girlfriend I have had make comments on me having baby teeth. My dentist tells me I grind my teeth but I have always doubted him and I wonder if he is saying that because of the baby teeth. Any ideas?

3. If I am grinding my teeth I know I need a mouth guard. I have tried 2 different mouth guards that were bout OTC. the 1st one you heat and mold and it never stayed in place and it felt like I was sleeping with a football mouth guard in my mouth (Spent all night awake with it in and never did fall asleep) The 2nd one was differnt, it had these pads that orevented your mouth from closing all the way and was a lot thinner and flimsier. I liked the concept of this one, but same problem of not being able to fall asleep. I have a very sensitive to weird sensations, especially in my mouth. The only other option I am aware of is the expensive ones from the dentist, however I am afraid I am going to spend all this money and have the same problem of not being able to sleep. How are the professional mouth guards different then the OTC versions.

If you like you can email me at ***@**** with your responses.

THANK YOU if you are able to take the time to answer my questions, I think there need to be more places like this one where people can ask questions to professionals.

[mike1105]

motrin is the same as advil. that is a good idea. it will make you feel better. i'd save the extra $ though and buy OT generic ibuprofen. it's the same thing.

[mike1105]

i ve been a dentist for 20 years. for root canal post op pain i've never prescribed prednisone. to me it is overkill, although it will make you feel better.

[Robbnva]

What about the Motrin 3x a day is that a good idea?

[Robbnva]

What is an average healing time without the Prednisone? I am already about a month after the permanant crown placement. If I don't have take it that is good because I read all of the potential aide effects and I don't want anyone of them.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

I think what your dentist is saying is that you have what we call a pericementitis which is an inflammation of the fibers that connect the tooth to the bone. This is not  unusual after root canal therapy. It should dissipate over a period of time. I think that the Prednisome is a bit over kill but that is just one mans opinion.