Question:
I had a root canal on #31 six weeks ago. Since then, I've had no
sensitivity to percussion or heat, but I have had a couple of incidents of
sensitivity to very cold substances (like sorbet). Since then, it's
quieted down. Does the cold sensitivity indicate I need a redo, or is it
just normal post-op sensitivity?
Answer:
Cold sensitivity is likely from another tooth. Teeth post root canal
should not be sensitive to cold. Get it checked out.
I was going to say this in my original message, and I guess I should have:
the day I had the sorbet that hurt, that night I was woken up by the tooth.
How did I KNOW it was #31? I gently ran a stainless steel butter knife
across #s 28-31, and it was DEFINITELY 31 that was hurting. Since the
sorbet incident there's been only very mild cold sensitivity a couple of
times, but does any sensitivity to cold at all after a root canal indicate
that the tooth is still in the process of healing, or does it indicate
something more serious?
Postop sensitivity, including spontaneous pain, soreness to biting pressure
or tapping, or even heat sensitivity is routine after a root canal. It can
take days or even weeks to resolve, but you should get a sense that it is
diminishing, even if slowly. Cold sensitivity theoretically can't come from a
tooth without a vital nerve. Even if the dentist somehow missed a canal (and
therefore some vital pulp tissue) I think it is unlikely you would get cold
sensitivity, esp. transient cold sensitivity. However, there are plenty of
reasons any given tooth could be cold sensitive, and the reason is not always
apparent. If you follow up on this tooth and make sure there are no problems
with nearby teeth, my guess is that since this was an intermittent problem and
now gone, and assuming there is no pain to biting pressure, the root canal is
probably fine.
How many of you guys have had a root canal? I have. Guess what? There
was indeed cold sensitivity to that particular tooth for several weeks
post op. I don't know how, but it was there (#14, and an endodontist,
with a microscope, gobs of bleach, who found MB-2, did the work....the
x-ray looked great). I couldn't explain it, and now, two years later
everything feels fine.
70% of these teeth do have a MB-2, but they merge apically, so mostly
there's no problem even if this tiny canal is left untreated.
