Update and Questions on my Root Canal

[CatLi]

Hello all,

I posted awhile about this root canal needed tooth that I was scared was going to kill me. I’m still experiencing that fear from it as from what I’ll tell you all below I worry there is an infection and it’s spreading.

So, I got the root canal (and two others so three root canals in one sitting) however the one I’m going to talk about is the one I already have, the second right molar from the back (not counting the wisdom teeth). It went well during the appointment and I finished my antibiotics and all was going well until it wasn’t. My jaw pain came back and it hurt but I figured that might be related to the fact my dentist said I’ll need wisdom teeth pulled soon. However, then the pain in the mollar came back, and it hurts. I can eat on it and what not but it’s just constant pain or almost constant pain.

I was supposed to go back to be measured for my crown on Jan 5th but due to a diabetes issue I wasn’t able to make the appointment so I had to reschedule and the earliest they can see me is the 26th. I’m also gone housesitting till the 22nd anyway.

I thought it would be okay but now it’s gotten worse. The pain is still in my jaw so when I yawn it causes immense pain. The pain has also migrated to my ear, eye, and temple. The eye and temple is on and off but the ear pain is pretty constant.

Obviously I know no one can say for sure because they can’t see my tooth themselves and I don’t have any x-rays for you (though when an x-ray was taken immediately following the root canal everything looked good, we went over it) but I’m wondering if my root canal failed. Does this mean the infection in my tooth is back? I’m worried all this additional pain means it’s spreading to the rest of my face and that it’ll make me sick.

Obviously I am worried about something going to my brain and killing me, but that is something I’m trying to just let go of(in therapy talking about my fears of death as well). So I guess in addition to wondering what this pain is possibly caused by, I’m also wondering is there anything I can do to make the tooth, ear, all of it, feel better until I can go back. I’m wondering if I should call and ask about more antibiotics but I’m unsure if I’ll get any as they didn’t want to give any to me the first time before the root canal.

 

[Gordon]

I thought it would be okay but now it’s gotten worse. The pain is still in my jaw so when I yawn it causes immense pain. The pain has also migrated to my ear, eye, and temple. The eye and temple is on and off but the ear pain is pretty constant.

That doesn't sound like a failed RCT, normally the pain is pretty specific to the tooth or its immediate area.
Could be some kind of TMJ flare up related to having your mouth opened for a long time for the RCT followed by the stress of worrying about it all.
Have a read on this and see if it helps: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/faq/tmj-pain/

 

[CatLi]

That doesn't sound like a failed RCT, normally the pain is pretty specific to the tooth or its immediate area.
Could be some kind of TMJ flare up related to having your mouth opened for a long time for the RCT followed by the stress of worrying about it all.
Have a read on this and see if it helps: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/faq/tmj-pain/

Thank you. That does sound a lot like what I’m going through in the jaw and I’m going to try some of those. I’ve found that heat does help.

I did bring it up to my dentist but he was convinced it was the tooth and it’d feel better once I got the root canal done. It did get a little better after I did and along with the antibiotics but it didn’t completely go away and now it’s back to how it was before.

This also doesn’t explain the pain that’s in that tooth specifically. The tooth itself does hurt. I wouldn’t say it’s a sharp pain, but it’s kind of a constant pain that hurts a lot, but not unbearable. Like I can chew on that side for example, though I’ve been avoiding it to prevent any damage from getting worse if there is damage there.