Root canal begun...still hurts

[autumn896]

Hey, all. I don't know if anyone remembers me. I had gone previously for the first part of a four-part root canal (I am supposed to go every 2-3 weeks for something else to be done). The dentist couldn't numb me at that time. He gave me a course of antibiotics.

Well, I went back last Monday. I still had pain every time he drilled deeper--it's in a molar on the bottom right and it had been filled years ago with a very deep filling--so he had to give me three separate rounds of shots. The pain was numbed somewhat and bearable and we had success--yay! He got the pulp extracted and four of those rubber thingies inserted, then a cotton pad in the tooth with something-or-other on it, then a putty-like temporary filling.

Well, it STILL hurts. Actually, today it hurts worse than ever. I've been careful not to eat on that side. Is this a problem? How can it still hurt if there's no root there any more?

Thanks for any help...

 

[Zzzdentist]

It's been almost a week since you had the root canal completed?  You might want to call the dentist first thing Monday, and see if you can get in for an appointment.  That doesn't sound normal that it's even more painful after a week.  Sometimes a complete root canal can be tender and achey for a week after it's been completed, but it should be settling down near the end.

They might want to take a look or perhaps try an antibiotic, but I would probably go in to have it examined.

If the root canal hasn't been completed, it might require another open and drainage and possibly a calcium hydroxide medicament placed. Either way, have it checked out.

 

[autumn896]

Okay...thanks a lot...I will call tomorrow. This was the first part of my root canal--there's a temporary filling on it and the crown hasn't been made yet.

Thanks again for your help.