Question:
I had the first half of a root canal done six days ago. Intially it
felt fine. It started to feel worse on Saturday (periodic sharp pains,
dull ache between sharp pains, painful to chew). It feels a lot better
now (not more sharp pains and only an occasional dull ache), but still
painful to chew - worse than how it felt pre-root canal. The root
canal is supposed to be completed in a couple of weeks. Is this pain
just because the root canal hasn't been completed? Will it go away
once the dentist is finished? I am confused at what the dentist told
me. At one point he said that I would get instant relief from the pain
I had been feeling (didn't happen), but then later said that there
might still be pain. If the nerve was taken out, how can it still hurt?
Answer:
Infection. The nerve does not hurt. The surrounding BONE does hurt!
I had the same problem after *both* parts of my root canal. Extremely bad
pain upon biting on the tooth. I guess even when the nerve is gone the
surrounding tissue in the area can cause this pain. However, it went
away. 6 days isn't that long. It took slightly over two weeks, closer to
3, but I'm pain-free now. That was after the final appointment; the pain
after the 2nd appt lasted about 4-5 days. At any rate, I wouldn't worry
yet. I think there's an outisde chance that a fracture in the root could
cause that kind of pain too, but give it a chance to go away before you
start having nightmares. I thought I was doooomed but I can chomp on my
crown all I want now.
Root canals are not all the same by any means. Much of the healing and
pain after treatment depends on what the condition of the nerve and
surrounding tissue before treatment.
Acute, irreversible pulpitis without swelling or fever usually responds
pretty rapidly to endodontic treatment.
Old, "dead" teeth that have never abcessed, but are diagnosed on
radiographs usually do even better.
A roaring, swollen, infection, accompanied by fever and you and your
dentist may have your hands full.
Most root canals are now done in one appointment (in the US anyway).
