Heat sensitivity

[Louisebambi]

Last year I began a lot of treatment after avoiding the dentist for 8 years. One tooth broke, and a few others needed deep fillings.

One tooth in particular became aggravated after the filling and required urgent root canal treatment. The nerve was very inflamed and she put some stuff in to kill it off. Anyway when she was filing inside the tooth, she went in too deep and it hurt a lot (it happened on two of the three canals, the third she wasn't able to clean out as she said it was too small or she couldn't find it). Anyway all has been good so far but this past week I've started getting heat sensitivity when I have a hot drink or food, otherwise its not hurting. Could it be the RC failing? She didn't advise a crown as there wasn't enough tooth left to support one so she said it would be a waste of money, especially if it did fail and I end up needing an extraction.

I will also add that I have not long got over a bad cold and I have had like sinus stuff that's leaked out of my nose so I don't know if this is linked or just a result of my cold.

 

[assertives]

I'm no professional but from what I have read, the goal of a root canal is to thoroughly clean out the canal space of the tooth from any infection, bacterial or dead cells/debris followed by a good seal to prevent any bacterial from getting into the canal space and cause a re-infection.

So it was alarming to me that she left out the 3rd canal, and didn't recommend a crown or some sort of permanent seal. You can almost be sure that there will be re-infection further down the road because there are dead cells left behind in this 3rd canal. Perhaps the root canal was done not with the goal of preserving the tooth for the long run, but just as quick relief interim measure to relieve pain?

If that is the case, it means you would need to get more work done to restore the tooth to some sort of functional condition assuming you intend to save it. Please seek a second opinion with an endodontist, if the endo recommends saving the tooth, the endo usually have a microscope which would aid in finding and cleaning out all the canals.

 

[Louisebambi]

I'm no professional but from what I have read, the goal of a root canal is to thoroughly clean out the canal space of the tooth from any infection, bacterial or dead cells/debris followed by a good seal to prevent any bacterial from getting into the canal space and cause a re-infection.

So it was alarming to me that she left out the 3rd canal, and didn't recommend a crown or some sort of permanent seal. You can almost be sure that there will be re-infection further down the road because there are dead cells left behind in this 3rd canal. Perhaps the root canal was done not with the goal of preserving the tooth for the long run, but just as quick relief interim measure to relieve pain?

If that is the case, it means you would need to get more work done to restore the tooth to some sort of functional condition assuming you intend to save it. Please seek a second opinion with an endodontist, if the endo recommends saving the tooth, the endo usually have a microscope which would aid in finding and cleaning out all the canals.

She couldn't find it properly. I've been today and I have a filled tooth in front of it from a previous filling and we think its that one as it looked shadowy. She's going to ring me later when she's had chance to look. In regards to my RC, the tooth was badly decayed due to me avoiding the dentist for years. I can't afford to see a specialist so my option really is to have it removed. For how much a specialist would be I might as well save to have an implant put in instead and avoid future problems.

 

[Dr. Daniel]

Hi,

I doubt whether the tooth with the RC is causing the sensitivity to warmth. Theoretically it is possible but in reality not. Even if a poor RCT was performed, the tooth should not have enough nerve tissue to sense hot nor cold.
My guess is: after having composite fillings, especially deep ones, there is a chance for sensitivity to warmth. Did one of the neighbouring teeth of the one with the RC had a deep filling?

IN any case, it is better to avoid pain and irritation. What can also help is if the dentist/oral hygienist gently clean the filled teeth (without water, just hand instrument). Sometimes some leftovers of the bonding (a material for a white filling) is left outside the tooth by the gum line and causes pain with cold/warm/pressure.