Pain After Root Canal

Should I have pain after root canal treatment has been completed?

I didn’t know root canals cause pain.

Has my root canal failed?

Maybe I should have just had my tooth removed!

If you have one of these questions, don’t worry. They are very common questions.

After more than 20 years in Endodontics, I have heard these comments and questions many times.

The rationale goes something like this:

"I thought I had the nerve taken out of my tooth."

I" still have pain after root canal treatment was completed."

"The dentist must have done something wrong."

"He must have left some nerve in my tooth."

This might seem logical but it isn't accurate at all. So before you jump to erroneous conclusions let me reassure you:

Some pain after root canal treatment is to be expected.

It does not mean your dentist performed an inadequate root canal.

Some pain after root canal treatment does not mean your root canal failed.

Most pain after root canal treatment has been completed is easily controlled with medication prescribed by your dentist.

I would like to now explain why you might still be having pain after root canal treatment has been completed.

Possible explanations for your pain after root canal completion:

Pre-existing pain. Many times a tooth is already hurting at the time of the root canal treatment. This pain will not usually vanish after treatment although it may improve dramatically.

If you have a severe toothache at the time of your root canal treatment you should expect a certain level of discomfort for a couple of days following your appointment.

Think of it this way: You step on a splinter of wood but don’t realize what you’ve done. You walk around several days and then notice your foot hurts and is beginning to swell.

You go to the emergency room and they remove the splinter. Naturally, the pain and swelling will linger for a couple of days before you can walk comfortably on your foot.

The same is true for your tooth. A root canal treatment removes the source of your pain. But it will take a little while before everything returns to normal.

Bone and gums. Sometimes we forget just how complex our bodies are. The roots of our teeth sit in sockets in our jawbone.

The roots are held in these sockets by a ligament. This ligament contains the same kind of tissue as the pulp tissue on the inside of the tooth: nerve and blood vessels.

When a tooth needs a root canal treatment this surrounding ligament gets inflamed and becomes painful. After the root canal is completed it will take some time for this ligament and the surrounding tissue to heal.

High filling. Sometimes there can be a little excess filling placed in the top of the tooth after the root canal treatment.

This makes the tooth hit the opposing tooth too hard. This can cause your tooth to hurt. It doesn’t mean your root canal failed. You simply need to have this filling reduced.

Quick answers to common questions:

•  Do root canals cause pain? They can.
•  Does it mean my root canal failed? No.
•  When should I be concerned? If the intensity of the pain does not begin to diminish.
•  What should I do if I have pain after root canal treatment has been completed? Call your dentist immediately.

I’ve written The Relaxed Root Canal to answer all your questions about root canal treatment.

My goal in writing this book is to help you stay relaxed during your treatment. Keeping you relaxed not only helps you; it will help your dentist give you the best possible root canal treatment.

It could also help minimize your pain after root canal treatment. To read more click here.

You simply must get a YES answer to this question. I'll recommend what to do if you get a NO answer. For more information CLICK HERE.

In The Relaxed Root Canal I also answer questions such as these:

• What home remedy for a toothache should I not try?

• What patients receive the highest quality treatment?

• Can I prevent root canals?

It is not uncommon to need more than one root canal treatment in a lifetime.

Now is the time to have all your questions answered and learn how to have The Relaxed Root Canal experience.

  Return from Pain After Root Canal to Relaxed Root Canal home