Why am I experiencing pain after a root canal treatment?

Question

Hello doctor,

I had a root canal on my second molar three days ago, and now I am experiencing pain. The dentist informed me that there was some infection and that she could not complete the full procedure in one sitting. She explained that she applied medicine to help treat the infection and sealed it with a material.

I have an appointment scheduled for next month. But now I am experiencing pain in my tooth, particularly when biting with my upper teeth. Moreover, the medicine prescribed by the dentist is no longer with me. What should I do?

Kindly advise..

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and completely understand your concern.

It is normal to experience pain in a tooth that has undergone incomplete root canal treatment, especially when biting down. This discomfort may persist for some time even after the root canal is finished.

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen (600 mg) can be taken, one pill every six to eight hours for five days or until the pain goes away. Ibuprofen will help reduce the pain as well as reduce inflammation near the root tip that causes pain when biting.

If the pain when biting continues without any improvement after five days of taking Ibuprofen, please return to your dentist. They may need to slightly reduce the height of the treated molar to prevent it from making contact with the upper opposing tooth when you bite down.

I hope this explanation is clear and helpful.

If you have any further questions or need clarification, I am here to assist you.

Thank you for reaching out!