Pain after root canal filling and what to do after root canal filling.

Pain after Root Canal Treatment, dental problems are suffered by young and old alike all over the world, and modern dentistry is striving hard to preserve and protect teeth from decay and cavities. Dental fillings are one of the means that science has reached in treating dental problems to restore the patient’s confidence in themselves and their smile.

Pain after Root Canal Treatment

Pain after Root Canal Treatment

Pain after a root canal procedure is one of the most common fears patients have when visiting the dentist for this procedure in case their teeth or molars need filling. Fillings, whether temporary or permanent, are among the procedures preferred by doctors because they work to support the tooth or molar and protect it for a longer period than extraction; as extraction has many health consequences such as jaw bone erosion or the need for a tooth implant procedure.

“We understand the importance of patient comfort. Schedule an appointment at our The Dental Center to experience a pain-free root canal and benefit from high-quality medical service.”

Is Root Canal Treatment Really Painful?

Yes, root canal treatment does cause some pain, but not to a great degree as it used to; as during the filling procedure, the dentist uses the appropriate type of medical anesthetic for the patient’s tooth, and after completing the procedure, the doctor prescribes pain relievers and medications that reduce the patient’s sensation of pain resulting from removing the nerve; where the doctor cleans the tooth and removes the damaged nerve and replaces it with a suitable filling for its condition. Doctors also warn patients against taking painkillers on their own to avoid any unpleasant side effects.

How Long Does Tooth Pain Last After a Root Canal?

It is well known that undergoing a root canal procedure is one of the most painful stages for dental patients, and the cleaning and drilling that precedes putting the filling in the cavity is the most painful, and we will learn about the causes and duration of feeling pain after root canal treatment from the following stages:

• After completing the root canal procedure and the anesthetic’s effect wears off, the patient feels pain due to the inflammation of the gum surrounding the tooth.
• The toothache persists in the first few days but decreases day by day by following the doctor’s advice and taking prescription pain relievers.
• If the patient had inflammation before the filling, the healing process will take longer after the filling due to inflammation of all tissues.
• When the molar has an abscess before the procedure, the patient feels pain when chewing or moving the jaw for days after the filling.
• Bacterial infection causes irritation to the nerve endings after the filling, and in this case, the specialist doctor should be visited as soon as possible.
• The doctor’s use of unsterilized tools causes the pain to persist after the filling due to irritation and inflammation of the gums.

You can also learn all about cosmetic fillings through this article.

Causes of Tooth Pain After Root Canal Treatment

• Neglecting oral and dental hygiene after the filling.
• When the tooth or molar is exposed to fracture over time.
• If there is a second root canal inside the treated tooth that the doctor did not see during the procedure.
• Deterioration of the tooth or molar restoration.
• Multiple removals of the filling in search of the root canal, then the doctor puts the filling back again.
• Difficulty in cleaning one of the canals that became obstructed.
• If there was a medical error during the filling placement step.
• The tooth or molar suffers cracks after the filling, forcing the doctor to extract it.

Symptoms After Root Canal Treatment?

There are two types of symptoms that may appear on the patient after the root canal procedure, the first is the success of the procedure, which is the most common case, and the second is the failure of the root canal treatment, which rarely happens, especially after the advancement of modern medicine stages.

1. Symptoms of successful root canal procedure
   The patient feels some pain, which goes away with prescription painkillers.
   Recovery of gum inflammation and irritation after nerve removal.
   The success is recognized by the patient through the disappearance of symptoms, and the doctor recognizes it by using X-rays on the mouth.
2. Symptoms of failed root canal treatment
   Swelling: Often, the swollen tissues are sensitive to touch, and the swelling may appear on the patient’s face and sometimes neck, with the possibility of pus or abscess discharge from the area adjacent to the tooth, in addition to a change in tooth color.
   Feeling of pressure and discomfort: The patient usually feels uncomfortable and increasingly feels a sharp pain, whether by moving the jaw or touching the affected area.
   Thermal sensitivity: This condition is not a sign of failure like swelling and pain, but during the filling stage, the nerve tissues are removed by removing the nerve, so it is expected not to respond to heat and cold, and this is an indication of an untreated root canal.
   

   Symptoms After Root Canal Treatment

What to Do After Root Canal Treatment

The healing stage is not limited to the success of the procedure only, but the patient must be extremely careful during the days following the root canal treatment by following some instructions, including:

• Be sure not to eat or drink water after the filling for a period ranging from 1 to 3 hours.
• Avoid solid foods that subject the jaws to pressure so as not to expose the filling to fracture.
• Avoid sweets high in sugar, as they play a significant role in the formation of bacteria and the spread of cavities.
• Chewy foods that move the filling from its place, such as gum and jelly.
• Hot and cold drinks so as not to sensitize the gums after the procedure and leave them until they heal.

How to Relieve Root Canal Pain?

To alleviate the pain resulting from root canal treatment, some instructions should be followed that help the success of the filling itself:

• Do not chew food on the same side where the affected tooth is located until you allow the inflamed bone and tissues in the gum to heal faster.
• Use some pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which should be prescribed by the doctor so that the patient does not experience any side effects, as these medications work to temporarily relieve pain.
• If the pain persists and the patient feels it acutely, the treating doctor should be visited as soon as possible.
• Warm compresses can be used at the site of pain as they help relieve the intensity.
• Gently clean the mouth and teeth using a toothbrush and toothpaste containing fluoride to protect the other teeth from cavities and maintain overall oral hygiene. Dental floss can also be used to clean the teeth.

Steps Involved in Root Canal Treatment

Root canal treatment is a procedure performed in cases of severe decay and bacteria; where the decay reaches the pulp of the tooth, resulting in tooth cavities. The steps of root canal treatment vary from patient to patient depending on their condition, but there are some fixed steps that the doctor performs in most cases:

• The doctor takes X-rays of the teeth to identify the root canals that have been damaged and need their nerves removed.
• Anesthesia step, where the doctor gives a local anesthetic injection at the site of the affected tooth or the surrounding area so that the patient does not feel pain and discomfort during the procedure.
• Isolating the mouth so that it is not affected by any medical procedure.
• Drilling, where the decay is drilled and cleaned until reaching the root canal in the tooth pulp.
• Removing the damaged nerve tissues from the root canal.
• If the decay is deep, the doctor applies a lining inside the cavity.
• The doctor uses special chemical materials to be able to devitalize the nerve and shape the root canal.
• Placing a temporary filling inside the root canal at a suitable height to seal it.
• In some cases, the doctor places a crown on the tooth to improve its appearance and protect it from extraction.

“Strong and healthy teeth start from the inside. Schedule an appointment at our The Dental Center today for an outstanding root canal treatment service.”

Number of Sessions for Root Canal Treatment

There are cases treated in a single session and other cases that take several sessions, and there is no difference in the success rate of the procedure due to the number of sessions, but the number of sessions varies from one doctor to another depending on:

• The patient’s health condition, whether they suffer from chronic diseases or not.
• The state of decay that the teeth have reached.
• If there is an abscess or inflammation in the gum that needs to be treated first with antibiotics, resulting in multiple sessions.
• The type of filling used; gold fillings require more than one session.

By reading this article, you can learn about all types of fillings and their prices.