Nine days ago, I had three root canals done on my top front teeth, through the backs of crowns. One crown shattered from this and was replaced by bonding material. Another cracked in half and was partially replaced by bonding material. The roots were dead when extracted and since the need for root canals was due to trauma and not decay, I was told that I would have aching for a day and a half and would probably not need the pain pills I was prescribed. I began a course of Amoxicillin.
For two days after the root canal, I had a very sharp pain in these teeth any time they were touched or even brushed slightly by my lips, food, or a fork. I couldn't touch these teeth or bite food without a sharp pain, and they were hot/cold sensitive. Mouth wash made the teeth throb with pain.
I called my dentist and he said it was probably just sensitivity to the root canal work. He changed my antibiotic to Clindamycin and put me on a week-long course of Prednizone. I started doing salt water rinses, and quit the mouth wash.
Now it has been nine days and the pain has gradually receded but is not gone. The teeth are still sensitive to hot tea and I can't chew with them. I put a very minimal amount of mouth wash in my WaterPik and this caused a throbbing that was dull, not sharp like before. I am concerned that the pain has not gone away.
Should I have this root canal work checked? If so, what, specifically, will the endodontist be checking for? I'll be out of Clindamycin tomorrow, should I get my script refilled? What might be causing this pain? Could it be gum sensitivity or just a reaction to the work? It doesn't feel like the pain is in the gums, but this is what everyone keeps suggesting. And how long should I wait before replacing the broken crowns? What can I do myself or look out for until I can get into the dentist? Why would mouth wash make the teeth hurt more? Thank you.