Tooth Pain After Root Canal When Biting
Why Would I Have Tooth Pain After a Root Canal? February 19, 2014 If you’ve ever experienced the excruciating tooth pain caused from needing a, you were probably relieved after the process was over and you were finally pain free. No one wants to have a root canal, but once you need one, having this dental procedure is a welcomed relief.
- But what if you have a root canal and you are still experiencing pain? There are a few reasons someone can experience pain after a root canal has been completed.
- A root canal, when done by an experienced dentist, leaves no living pulp tissue inside of a tooth.
- There is however nerve endings in the ligaments that attach a tooth to the jaw bone.
The ligament nerve endings can feel pain and are typically the source of pain even after a root canal is complete. Ligaments can be damaged during a root canal procedure, causing excess inflammation. Eventually inflammation will settle down and the pain should resolve itself.
- The periapical tissues can also become inflamed post root canal and like inflamed ligaments cause pain.
- There can be a lingering, persistent infection with severe root canal cases that can cause pain.
- Occasionally infection can remain around the periapical area if the tooth or root is fractured, and the tooth will need to be retreated.
If pain persists after re-treatment, the tooth will most likely need to be extracted. Sometimes root canal patients experience high bite after a root canal where the crown or filling is not exactly fitting correctly. If you have pain in the tooth that received a root canal when biting down, ask your dentist or endodontist to adjust the bite.
Contents
- 1 Why does my root canal hurt when I bite down?
- 2 Why does my tooth still hurt when I bite after root canal?
- 3 How long does bite sensitivity last after root canal?
- 4 What is first bite syndrome after root canal?
- 5 Is it normal for a root canal to hurt months later?
- 6 How do I know if my root canal is healing?
- 7 Is it normal to have sensitivity months after a root canal?
Why does my root canal hurt when I bite down?
Tooth Pain After Root Canal: Damage to the Surrounding Tissue –
During the root canal, tissue damage can occur if bacteria is accidentally injected into the surrounding tissue, if too much filling material is used and flows past the root tip, or if a file used to clean the inside of the tooth slips beyond the root tip and pokes into the tissue below.
- In these cases, the pain will disappear when the damaged tissue heals.
- Root canals are an effective method for addressing problems caused by damaged or infected pulp, and this procedure is usually effective at eliminating tooth pain.
- However, if your tooth pain persists after the root canal, these are common issues that might explain the problem.
In most cases, the tooth pain will resolve on its own, but if the pain is excessive or continues for more than five days, consult a dental professional as soon as possible. Related Article: Brooks City Base Dentist: GPS Spotlight on Dr. Gary Skrobanek Dr.
- Gary P. Skrobanek ‘s experienced and friendly team at GPS Dental offers family dentistry for all ages in San Antonio, TX area.
- Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs.
- At GPS Dental, we promote dental health awareness to our patients and provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more.
We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.
Why does my tooth still hurt when I bite after root canal?
Why Does My Tooth Hurt? – In most cases, tooth pain after a root canal is due to tissue inflammation, but not indicative of an active infection. The most common source of pain after a root canal is the inflammation of tissues around the tooth’s root. This is “periradicular inflammation.” Depending on severity, it does take some time for such swelling to go down and the tissue to fully heal.
- A wide variety of events can inflame these tissues.
- It is possible that the infection that necessitated a root canal previously caused these ligaments to swell.
- The problem could also be linked to “over-instrumentation.” When removing the infected tissue, endodontists are careful to diligently clean out the full length of the root canals.
It is possible, however, to unfortunately extract or otherwise potentially irritate tissue beyond the end of the tooth. The tool endodontists use to clean out root canals is a file. If it pushes past the end of the root during the cleaning process, you will be sore until that damage can heal.
This also exacerbates the risk of bacteria and debris from the root’s tip escaping into the surrounding tissues. The same risk applies to the leakage of solutions and medicaments. For example, the sealer (a material used to “seal off” the inside of the tooth during treatment) might push beyond the end of the root.
The consequent aggravation to the tissue can cause even more tenderness.
How long does bite sensitivity last after root canal?
Due to the effects of the dental works, expect that your tooth may get sensitive. However, the sensitivity should go down as you recover. In about a week, you should not be experiencing any tooth sensitivity.
What is first bite syndrome after root canal?
Introduction – First bite syndrome is an uncommon complication following surgery involving the infratemporal fossa and the parapharyngeal space or deep lobe of parotid 1, Patients typically experience pain in the parotid region on the same side as the surgery at the first bite of each meal.
It characteristically lasts for a few seconds and gradually improves with subsequent mastication, but returns at the first bite of the next meal 2,Symptoms range from mild to severe, and can significantly affect the patient’s quality of life 3, The actual cause of first bite syndrome is unknown. Most cases occur as a postoperative complication, but it has also been reported preoperatively 3,4,5, and even spontaneously, without any obvious cause 6,
Most theories on the pathology of first bite syndrome are based on the concept of sympathetic denervation of the parotid gland either through cervical sympathectomy or ligation of vascular structures alongside which sympathetic nerves travel 3, This results in subsequent hypersensitivity of myoepithelial cells to parasympathetic neurotransmitters and elicits a supramaximal contraction of myoepithelial cells during the first bite of a meal and subsequently subsides with continued mastication 7, Figure 1: Surgical scar left side of neck from previous neck surgery
How do I know if root canal has failed?
The signs of a root canal failure may include: Tooth sensitivity or root canal pain when biting down. A pimple or boil on the jaw. Discoloration of the tooth.
Why is my root canal sensitive to pressure?
Missed Canal – Teeth have several canals and some of them are difficult to detect, especially in molars. It’s possible a dentist may overlook an infected canal, leaving a bit of nerve inside the tooth or a small pocket for bacteria to form an infection. If a nerve is left behind, your tooth will remain sensitive to hot and cold as it was before the procedure. If bacteria are causing an infection, the tooth will be sensitive to pressure. Sometimes, the spaces left for bacteria to reside in are microscopic and found in the very tip of the root. Neither problem will settle down on its own. You need a repeat root canal, preferably at Evanson DDS, where the experienced dental team uses state-of-the-art procedures to correct these types of mistakes. If you’re experiencing pain after a root canal, don’t wait for the condition to worsen. Contact Evanson DDS online or call us at (720) 409-0008 to schedule an appointment. Leave a reply →
Can a dentist tell if a root canal has failed?
Can You See a Failed Root Canal on X-ray? – Yes. Endodontists use X-rays to find and treat a failed root canal because it’s often hard to see any problems with the naked eye. By taking x-rays, your endodontist can check on how your treatment is going and see if there are any problems inside or near the root of your tooth. It’s a good way to make sure your treatment goes well.
Can a dentist mess up a root canal?
Negligence Associated with Root Canals – There are several causes of dental malpractice in performing root canals. One of the first instances is an improper diagnosis of the need for a root canal in the first place. At times, dentists will perform a root canal unnecessarily.
- The dentist might overestimate the damage to the tooth or misdiagnose the need for a root canal.
- Unscrupulous dentists might even perform the procedure so that they can bill the patient’s insurance for a higher amount.
- Another cause of dental malpractice when performing a root canal is drilling too deep into the tooth.
If a dentist drills too deep, he or she might cut through the bottom of the tooth. This can create an infection, swelling, and failure of the procedure. A failed root canal may lead to loss of the tooth, damage to the jaw bone, and gum issues. Yet another instance of dental malpractice related to root canals is failure to properly clean inside the tooth and refill it correctly.
When part of the infected root is left within the tooth, it may cause the root to rot and the infection to remain. This can lead to pain, swelling, and loss of the tooth. Further, not refiling the tooth with the appropriate level of resin can result in damage and infection, as can failing to put a proper post to hold up the tooth.
Anyone who experiences a failed root canal will need to consult with a dental malpractice attorney right away to protect their legal rights.
Can a dentist fix a failed root canal?
Is it Possible to Repair a Failed Root Canal? – Yes, a root canal that has failed can be repaired. Retreatment, extraction along with a Dental Implant, and apicoectomy are all choices available to your endodontist. Retreatment, the most common treatment option for failed root canals, offers the best success rate.
Why does chewing feel weird after root canal?
The gums may be sore and the tooth may be tender when biting or chewing. These conditions exist because the nerves around the tooth have been inflamed because of the conditions that existed before treatment was started and due to the manipulation of the tooth during treatment.
Is it normal for a root canal to hurt months later?
Journal List HHS Author Manuscripts PMC3697825
As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health. Learn more about our disclaimer. Northwest Dent. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2013 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Northwest Dent.2010 Jan-Feb; 89(1): 33–36. PMCID: PMC3697825 NIHMSID: NIHMS479589 Alan S. Law, DDS, PhD, Private practice endodontist, Emily Utoft Durand, RDH, RF, Research coordinator, D. Brad Rindal, DDS, Dental investigator, and Donald R. Nixdorf, DDS, MS, Assistant professor “Why does my tooth still hurt? I thought that a root canal would take the pain away.” Out of all the questions patients ask, those involving persistent pain can be among the most challenging to answer.
Based upon what is known about the number of root canal treatments performed annually and research findings related to post-treatment pain, many patients and dentists will experience significant frustration related to persistent pain. It is estimated that approximately 16.4 million root canal treatments are performed annually in the United States.1 Most studies that examine pain after root canal treatment show that 3–6% of patients will experience severe pain in the days following treatment.2 A recent meta-analysis of the Endodontic literature suggests that 5.3% of patients who received root canal therapy report some form of pain 6 months or longer following treatment.3 Extrapolating from these numbers, approximately 800,000 U.S.
How do I know if my root canal is healing?
How To Identify Improper Healing When a tooth becomes infected, a root canal is often the treatment of choice to save it. Root canals have a very high success rate; however, sometimes challenges develop after the treatment that can indicate that the healing process is not proceeding as it should.
According to Dr. Jaqueline Allen, an endodontist with the, “Root canal healing is identified by the elimination of symptoms either immediately or over time, the elimination of swelling, and bone growth over the next six months to two years, in areas where abcesses have eliminated bone.” Dr. Allen, who also practices with the Phoenix Endodontic Group, discussed several reasons that improper healing can occur after a root canal.
“If the tooth is not properly restored after the root canal treatment, either by your dentist or the specialist, it may begin leaking into the root canal space and become re-contaminated by bacteria,” she said. “If a patient’s overall health causes them to heal more slowly – if they have uncontrolled diabetes, for instance – that may affect healing as well.”
Is it normal to have sensitivity months after a root canal?
Patients often expect to have immediate pain relief following endodontic therapy. Depending upon the size of the periapical lesion, necrotic state of the pulp, and the medical history of the patient, complete healing postendodontic treatment can vary.
The literature reports that 3%–6% of patients can experience severe pain after root canal therapy, but this typically subsides within a week following treatment.1 Frustration can ensue, however, when pain persists (lasting longer than a week), and a common question from patients is, “I had a root canal, so why am I still in pain?” One meta-analysis reports that 5% of patients may experience pain that can last six months or longer after root canal therapy.2 To prevent patients from experiencing long-lasting pain, it is important to recognize and diagnose the potential etiology of pain following root canal treatment, especially since the origin can be multifactorial and nonodontogenic.
The literature suggests that early identification and treatment of pain can lead to more effective therapeutic outcomes.3 Top 5 reasons why tooth pain may exist after root canal therapy:
Why does chewing feel weird after root canal?
The gums may be sore and the tooth may be tender when biting or chewing. These conditions exist because the nerves around the tooth have been inflamed because of the conditions that existed before treatment was started and due to the manipulation of the tooth during treatment.