Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common causes of dental problems. Though teeth are calcified and appear to be strong, these can break due to trauma. Dental problems are commonly seen in people who don’t pay heed to dental care or hygiene. By not paying attention to dental care, one would be giving an open invitation to bacteria. Bacteria may start affecting the tooth enamel and could even reach the living pulp tissue that comprises nerves, blood vessels and the connective tissue located within the root canal. A root canal is a cavity that is located within the center of the tooth. If the pulp tissue or the nerve within these canals get damaged, bacteria find a way into the pulp chamber. This can lead to an abscessed tooth or a tooth infection which in turn can cause a debilitating toothache and many other distressing symptoms.
If the tooth is badly damaged, one may have to get the infected tooth extracted, however, dentists always prefer to perform a root canal procedure to save the tooth. Though root canal treatment is viewed as an alternative to tooth extraction, and may help in saving the tooth, if it is not performed correctly, one may suffer from a sore tooth after root canal. Scroll down to find out how root canal is performed, and why one may suffer from tooth pain after root canal treatment.
What is Root Canal Treatment?
Root canal treatment, which is medically referred to as endodontic therapy, is the best alternative to tooth extraction. It is performed after administering a local anesthetic to the patient. This dental procedure is recommended when the root canal is infected, and is performed to prevent the bone around the tooth from getting damaged. This dental procedure involves the removal of the nerve and the pulp from the root of the tooth. A hole is drilled into the tooth in order to gain access to the damaged pulp tissue. The root canals then have to be measured so that these can be cleaned throughout the entire length. This can be done with the help of an X-ray or an electric device called apex locator. After the pulp tissue is removed, the main as well as accessory root canals are thoroughly cleaned. The roots are then sealed. Initially, a temporary filling would be placed on the tooth so as to prevent any further damage. Later on, a crown is fitted in order to restore the strength of the tooth. It is the living pulp tissue that responds to temperature, thus, after a root canal, the tooth is no longer sensitive to cold or hot foods.
Tooth Pain and Soreness after Root Canal
As the effect of anesthesia wears off, one may experience some pain after the procedure. One needs to be extremely careful and refrain from eating hard foods for a while. The tooth may feel sore a few days after the procedure. If pain and swelling persist, one must inform the dentist soon. Though root canal treatments are generally successful, at times, the dentist may find it hard to locate the root canals. Some teeth may have many root canals. If the dentist missed out on any of them, pain may linger. Some of the canals are curved or hard to reach. If the canal wasn’t measured in a correct manner, parts of infected pulp may be left within the tooth. Under these circumstances, one may complain of tooth pain and soreness.
If the material used for sealing the root canal is not placed properly or dental restoration is not done in a correct manner, bacteria may find a way into the cavity and recontaminate it. Another possible cause of tooth ache after root canal treatment, may be associated with an ill-fitting dental crown. A tight crown may rub against the gums and cause severe discomfort. A badly infected tooth usually takes longer to heal, so, if the visit to the dentist is made after considerable damage had already be done, one may take longer to recover. Though the infected pulp is the reason behind increased sensitivity to cold or hot food items, pain could also arise from the inflammation of the tissues that surround the tooth. Though the tools used in this procedure are quite flexible, and bend along the curves of the canals, if they bend at the wrong time, these can puncture the side of the tooth. If any crack or perforation is not detected, and left as it is, bacteria may seep through and cause an infection.
Though success rate of root canal procedure is very high, at times, root canal complications may occur. Sore tooth or tooth pain after root canal procedure may result if the dentist to unable to access or clean the infected root canals. Though tooth pain is quite debilitating and most people dread the thought of visiting the dental clinic, one must not rush the dentist into conducting the procedure in fewer sittings. It’s essential that the root canals are properly cleaned and sealed, and a perfectly fitted dental crown is placed on top.
