Why Does My Tooth Still Hurt?

Question

I had an old root canal reopened last week because that tooth was throbbing. The root canal was 15 yrs old and wasn't done right. Anyhow, it was reopened...the Doc said it would stop throbbing and hurting. Well, it isn't as bad as it was but it still slightly throbs and it is sensitive to the cold wind. What is up with that? Any Dentists out there that can advise? I am scheduled to get it finished in two weeks. She said she went all the way through so that the abcess wouldn't blow up. I'm worried. Thank you.

I just started taking homeopathic antibiotics that were indicated to work. I started yesterday....the procedure was started on Monday. Is it that the infection is still there thus causing the sensitivity? I'm so worried.

Answer 1

It seems as if the dentist had to open up the tooth and drain the infection. This procedure is called emergency open and drain. It is normal for a tooth to be sore/throbbing after this procedure. The good sign is that your pain has decreased after the procedure. The tooth will not stop hurting all together untill you get the root canal treatment completed.

The reason why dentist has to do this emergency open and drain procedure is 1) to drain infection and 2) to put medicine in the canal/s that will start killing bacteria present there.

I am sorry to say this but even after you get the R.C.T. finished, it is normal for that tooth to be sore for about 2 weeks. Your tooth being sensitive to the cold wind indicates that either you have lost a portion of your temporary filling or may be a tooth close by is also having cavity that needs to be fixed.

One other possible reason for your tooth to be still throbbing and sensitive could be a missed canal. Sometimes if the tooth has unusual anatomy it is impossible to locate all canals. Again, I do not want to alarm you with this possibility because the chances are remote.

In summary, on your part you should take all the antibiotics and/or pain medicines that doctor prescribed religiously. I would also suggest you should call up your dentist and ask him/her to evaluate your tooth for :
1)lost temporary filling
2)chances of cavities in nearby teeth and
3) possibility of missed canal.

Good luck !

Answer 2

It sounds as though your tooth abscessed requiring the root canal be retreated. If this was done last week, and you are taking your antibiotics and haven't dislodged the temporary filling, you shouldn't be having a throbbing sensation now. It should have settled down with in a day or two. I would advise you let your dentist evaluate this tooth again. It's possible that the tooth is fractured or split, it's difficult to diagnosis this through a crown or with an x ray. There shouldn't be any sensitivity to hot or cold to this tooth. There may be another tooth entirely that is causing this problem and you think it's this one. There are a number of things that this could be. So before completion of the RCT takes place, let the dentist know so it can be evaluated again. Good luck!

Additional information: You should take "all medications" that your dentist "prescribed" and complete the full dose to clear up the infection that is present. I don't know what homeopathic medication you are taking, but it must not be working, use what was prescribed for the best results. Yes, the infection and inflammation is what is causing the pain. This tooth should not have any sensation to air, hot or cold, but the surrounding tissue does. The tooth itself is dead but the tissue is very much alive with many nerve endings that will respond to stimuli. It may be possible that this is a perio problem rather than an actual tooth abscess.

There are many things that your dentist will need to evaluate to determine what the actual problem is and why this tooth is still hurting and responding to stimuli. My guess, without actually viewing an x ray or the tooth, but only from experience, is that this tooth is fractured, most fractured teeth react the way you have described this one. This is something your dentist will discuss with you soon.

Also a root canal tooth should "never" be completed or filled if the tooth is still experiencing this type sensation or pain. Filling the canals does "not" stop the pain. Pain or sensation is an indication that there is still live nerve tissue or infection present. In your case with it being a 15 year old root canal treated tooth, I doubt its live nerve tissue.

Consult your dentist in regard to the pain you are still having, this is "not" the normal.

Answer 3

Hi Angelina. Sorry to hear about your pain. I would like to suggest a book on these types of problems. It is called "The Roots of Disease" and is written by Robert Kulacz, DDS and Thomas Levy, MD. It is available at Amazon.com

Root canals cannot be made totally sterile. Consequently, they always lead to a chronic, low-grade infection in the tooth and underlying bone. This is probably the cause of your symptoms. 'Reopening' the tooth will not cure the chronic infection. You may need to see a 'biological' or 'environmental' dentist for a second opinion.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 4

You should be worried, it shouldn't be sensitive to cold unless she traumatized the gum and the gum is hurting. Since you had an abcess I would worry because it might not be all cleaned out or there is something beyond the tooth in the gum. I had the same thing and my infection blew up so I had a fistula in the roof of my mouth and will be having surgery to remove it, my infection went beyond the tooth into the soft tissues, it's called cellulitis and just awful. To test if it's in the tooth or gum, tap the tooth affected, does it hurt? if you put ambesol or some numbing agent on the gum around the tooth, does it hurt to tap it or is it still a sting with cold? I would go back and have her check it again to be safe.

Answer 5

I had the same problem when my back tooth got infected. But my neck didn't hurt though. Just everything from my chin up did. Doctor would be the best bet.