Root canal treatment is done to save a tooth that is severely decayed or infected. In this procedure, nerves and blood vessels present in the pulp of the tooth are removed, and the pulp chamber is filled with a biocompatible material.
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Cheek is swollen and numb after RCT. Is this a dental emergency?
Query: Hello doctor, My five year old (turns six next month) has gone for a root canal a few hours ago. I was not with him but they told me that they used a gel anesthetic, if it matters. Now, he is back and his cheek on the treated side is swollen and numb, and he seems to have difficulty smiling or speak... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, it is normal. The numbness will go away in a couple of hours. The swelling may remain for two days. Give all prescribed antibiotics and painkillers as suggested. Read Full »
I have tooth pain, but my X-ray showed nothing. Why?
Query: Hello doctor, I have been having tooth pain for about six weeks. It is only when pressure is applied when I eat. No sensitivity to cold or hot. I went to the dentist and he took X-rays and compared them to routine X-rays taken a couple of months prior. He said the two sets were the same and saw no r... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. As per your history, there is no pulp cavity exposure or even if there is a crack that will not cause the pain. The reason I think is the filling, which may be high (high point). The second reason may be a periodontal problem. I do not think RCT (root canal treatmen... Read Full »
Can I fix hole in bottom tooth without going to the dentist?
Query: Hello doctor,My bottom tooth has a kind of a hole at the gum line. I do not know. When I breathe in, it feels cold like the air went in my tooth. It just does not seem or feel normal. Also, on my upper front tooth, I have some kind of deep line. Example like when you make a line in the sand and it f... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. As per your history, you are having class 5 dental cavity in the lower tooth. You need to do filling (restoration) of the tooth as soon as possible. If you do not take measures at this time you may need RCT (root canal treatment) which will be 10 to 20 expensive and not... Read Full »
What option do I have for infected tooth other than root canal and extraction?
Query: Hello doctor, I am an 82-year-old senior. I went to my dentist to have my teeth cleaned and he did an exam first and the X-ray showed an infected tooth (#30). He has recommended that I go to an oral surgeon and have the tooth pulled. I do not want or cannot afford a root canal. Considering my age, w... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Well, as per your age, the root canal is the best option. But, as you cannot afford treatment then removing tooth is the only treatment left. Infection in the tooth cannot vanish permanently but you can keep using mouthwash for few weeks and gather money or take dent... Read Full »
Is severe pain after getting a sedative filling normal?
Query: Hello doctor, I got a sedative filling done after a filling that was done a week ago became very painful. A day after the sedative filling, I am still experiencing a lot of pain. Is this normal? When should I consider going back to the dentist? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through your issue. Since you have pain after sedative/temporary filling, this indicates the tooth is either non-vital or the cavity has reached the pulp (blood supply of tooth). So, kindly visit the dentist, take an X-ray (intraoral periapical radiograph... Read Full »
Why am I having swelling and pus discharge from gum?
Query: Hello doctor, I had a swelling on the gum by a back molar. It opened and discharged some pus and blood. Currently, I am taking Norvasc, Levothyroxine, Lisinopril, and Gabapentin. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Swelling of the gums with pus discharge is definitely a sign of an infected tooth. The tooth should be loosened in the socket by now because of the pus formation. Ideally, depending on the total number of remaining teeth you have and the strength of the tooth, the treat... Read Full »
A 5 mm file was left behind during root canal. Will it cause any problem?
Query: Hi doctor, Yesterday, I underwent a root canal treatment and almost five mm file was left behind. Will it cause any problem? Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. How are you doing? The file is completely sealing the root canal till the working length (the exact length of the canal till which the root canal is done). So, it is not a problem. I hope the doctor had cleaned and shaped the canal, and the file was sterile before the ... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor, Today the first root canal treatment session is over, but my toothache is not decreasing. During the treatment, the dentist said that my canals were extremely narrow, and at the last moment, he realized that there was one more canal and cleaned it. There are four canals in total, and h... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern, and I am sorry for the pain you are going through. Sometimes the pain during root canal treatment (RCT) goes till the second sitting, so there is nothing much to worry about, but make sure you are comfortable and pain-free during packing or ... Read Full »
Can my tooth be sustained with a root canal and post?
Query: Hi doctor, I was suffering from molar pain for the past two weeks and then decided to see a doctor. One of my molars decayed and I needed a root canal. But here is a thing, my tooth is very very short for a crown, it is between 1 and 2 mm in height. Is it fine to just put a post and then refill the... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. If your root canal is being in process and the crown length is very low, it is best to have post and core done on it after a final step of the root canal. This will strengthen your tooth and it will last long for like 10 years or more. If you do not get the post and cor... Read Full »
What can be done for my upper and lower tooth pain?
Query: Hello doctor, I have pain in the tooth, both upper and lower and it is fluctuating for the last five days. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Your right upper last wisdom tooth is erupting in a bit of horizontal pattern and hitting the second last tooth and has caused infection in it (attachment removed to protect patient identity). You might need extraction of upper right wisdom and root canal treatment of upp... Read Full »