Severe Pain After Root Canal  Changing Your View Of Root Canals

Severe pain after root canal treatment is completed is possible but not very common. It is more common to have mild to moderate discomfort for 1-2 days. But some people still avoid root canal therapy altogether for fear they will experience severe pain after root canal treatment is completed.

Questions,  confusion, and misinformation are common when it comes to root canals and pain. Here are some of the common questions I’ve been asked in my 20+ years of performing root canal therapy.

Questions About Severe Pain After Root Canal Treatment Has Been Completed

1. How is it possible to have pain after the nerve of my tooth was cut out?  First of all it is better not to think of a root canal as “having the nerve cut out of my tooth.” A root canal does remove the nerve tissue that is found in the dental pulp.

But many times the nerve tissue has become diseased and sometimes completely died at the time of root canal treatment.  The pain you are having is coming from the bone and ligament surrounding your tooth. This tissue has abundant nerve tissue that can become inflamed and painful.

2. Did my dentist leave some of the nerve in my tooth?  It is possible for nerve tissue to be left in the tooth. This tissue can then lead to infection of the surrounding bone and ligament which produces pain. However this is not the usual source of pain after root canal treatment has been completed.

3. How long should my pain last?  This varies from patient to patient. Usually after 24-48 hours the pain will have begun subsiding. If you notice an increase in intensity of your pain you should contact your dentist.

4. What can be done to relieve this severe pain after root canal treatment has been completed?  Most people jump to the conclusion that the root canal needs to be redone or they need to have the tooth removed. This is usually not the case.

Giving the inflammation time to heal is often all that is needed. Over the counter or prescription analgesics are often employed for pain control. On some occasions it may be necessary to take antibiotics. ALWAYS INFORM YOUR DENTIST OF ANY DRUG ALLERGIES.

5. My tooth feels like it is hitting high. Could this be causing my pain?  Definitely. In fact this is a very common cause of pain. It is usually mild or moderate and not severe pain after root canal therapy. Your dentist can make an adjustment of your tooth and bring relief.

6. Does having this pain mean I will lose my tooth? No. Most of the time the pain resolves with several days and the tooth is retained. Don’t panic.

7. It feels like my ear hurts. Could this be coming from my tooth?  Yes, it is very common for pain to be referred from a lower molar tooth to the ear area.

8. Could my tooth be causing a headache?  Yes, some people experience a headache after root canal treatment or other dental procedures. Over the counter analgesics will usually bring resolution of your headache.

I wrote this book to answer more than 80 commonly asked root canal questions. I also wanted to give patients practical tips on how to  have a better root canal experience.

For more information please CLICK HERE.

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