Following a root canal, you may worry you’ll have a lot of post-procedure aches. You wouldn’t be the first with this fear; plenty of rumors can make the therapy sound agonizing. However, the truth is that the pain after root canal treatment shouldn’t be intense for you. Most patients can manage any felt discomfort and get back to an ache-free life pretty quickly. For further details, here’s a primer on post-root canal pain and when to see an endodontist for it.
Causes of Post-Root Canal Pain
In itself, a root canal should greatly relieve the ache in your tooth. The treatment removes infected pulp from your mouth, stopping various nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. You can expect the treated tooth to feel better in the long run and have protection from decay.
With all that said, the pain after a root canal can have several causes. A common one is inflamed gum tissue irritated by the procedure. Similarly, a dental instrument may have accidentally damaged a sensitive area near the tooth. There’s also the possibility that the dentist didn’t smooth down your temporary filling enough.
How Much Pain is Normal?
Any pain after a root canal is usually slight at best. That being the case, patients can work through it until it fades.
Indeed, most people only report mild to moderate discomfort after their root canal. The aches just represent that the area around the tooth feels tender. If the treatment lasted a while, it could also be that the patient’s jaw is sore from staying open.
Post-root canal pain can also be managed with good habits. For example, proper oral hygiene will keep debris and bacteria from the treatment site. A dental crown or filling will protect the decayed spot from stimuli.
When Should You See a Dentist?
While post-root canal pain is normally mild, that isn’t always the case. You should see a dentist if it gets severe and exists alongside symptoms like:
- Facial Swelling
- An Uneven Bite
- A High Fever
- Flu-Like Symptoms
When patients show the signs above, they should see a dentist quickly. There’s a good chance they have an infection, a cracked or fractured tooth, or something similar. If so, you could solve the problem with a root canal retreatment.
While you may feel pain after root canal treatment, it shouldn’t be intense. Talk to your dental provider if or when it gets worse.
About the Practice
JC Endodontics is based in the Manhattan borough of New York, NY. Led by our many talented endodontists, our practice specializes in saving teeth. That means we offer treatments like root canals, apicoectomies, endodontic microsurgery, and so on. You can trust our dedicated dental team to keep your smile strong and whole! For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (212)-737-6112.