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Post Root Canal Pain

Post root canal pain can be uncomfortable , frustrating, and confusing. During my 20+ years of performing root canal treatments I’ve heard people ask,

“How can I have pain if the nerve of my tooth is gone...”

It is easy to wrongfully conclude: “...all the nerve must not have been removed.”

Experiencing post root canal pain can lead to anxiety and frustration for both the patient and the dentist. That’s the reason I discuss this topic in more detail in The Relaxed Root Canal.

A tooth sore after root canal treatment is completed can be effectively treated and resolved quickly. But you'll need to be patient and try to understand what's going on with your tooth.

Don't jump to conclusions and give up on your tooth. Remember that about 95% of the time root canal treatments are effective and teeth are saved. This includes teeth that may be quite sore after the root canal procedure is completed.

Post Root Canal Pain: Causes and Treatments

Causes:

Inflamed ligament. A tooth sore after root canal treatment has been completed can have several possible causes. The most common cause is inflammation of the ligament that surrounds the root. This is called the periodontal ligament. It attaches to the inside of the socket in the jaw bone. This ligament has a composition similar to the dental pulp: nerve tissue, blood and lymphatic vessels.
This ligament is often inflamed at the time the root canal procedure is performed. That is why many teeth requiring root canal therapy will be sore to biting pressure. Additionally, the root canal procedure itself will usually cause inflammation of this ligament.

Infected bone. A root canal infection can progress toward the tip of the root and eventually involve the surrounding bone. Post root canal pain can result from this process. This may or may not result in swelling of the gum tissue or jaw. In some cases a minor incision has to be made in the swollen tissue to allow for drainage of the infection.

Treatment of Post Root Canal Pain:

The possible treatments include:

Over the counter medication. Many times the medication you would take for a headache will be sufficient such as Tylenol or ibuprofen.
Prescription analgesics. On occasion it will be necessary for your dentist to prescribe a stronger pain medication. These should be used judiciously. ALWAYS INFORM YOU DENTIST OF ANY DRUG ALLERGIES.
Time. Time really does heal most wounds. The tooth sore after root canal therapy should be gradually improving with time. If not, you need to notify your dentist immediately.
Bite adjustment. Sometimes a simple adjustment of your bite on the tooth will take care of your discomfort. If you notice that the treated tooth hits before your other teeth when you bite down, notify your dentist.
Warm, salt water rinses. A glass of warm water with a small amount of salt will help with your post root canal pain. This may also cause healing to take place more quickly. The warm temperature will increase blood flow to the area which will hasten the healing process.

There is one thing you should NEVER do to help with your post root canal pain. You can read about this and get more helpful information in The Relaxed Root Canal.

I wrote this book for people who are about to have or have already had a root canal. Root canals aren’t usually associated with the word relaxed. But I believe this book can help you overcome your fear and anxiety about having a root canal. To read more, CLICK HERE.