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common reasons you experience pain after root canal therapy

Common Reasons You Experience Pain After Root Canal Therapy

A root canal is a common procedure performed by a dentist in Forest Lake, MN, to treat tooth infection. During root canal therapy near you, your dentist will gently remove infected, dead, and damaged pulp from the center of the affected tooth and eliminate the source of your pain.

While root canal therapy is a highly effective procedure for treating dental pain and is very successful at eliminating dental pain, sometimes patients still experience tooth pain after their root canal. Here are some of the most common reasons why.

#1 Inflammation

One of the most frequent reasons for pain after root canal therapy is inflammation, which can be caused by the procedure itself or because the infection from before the treatment caused the tissues to be swollen. In most cases, swelling will go away on its own within a few days or weeks. A cold compress against your cheek can help with this.

#2 Infection

Although root canal therapy in Forest Lake is performed to remove the infection from a tooth, the infection can reoccur after the procedure, leading to infected tissue and further pain. If the problem persists, it is important to visit your dentist for a checkup. They may prescribe antibiotics to help fight the infection.

#3 Overly Large Fillings

After your dentist near you removes the pulp from the inside of your tooth, the empty space is filled with a dental filling material. If too much filling is used, it can cause your tooth to sit higher, causing pain whenever you bite down. If you notice issues with your bite after getting root canal therapy, come back to Forest Lake Family Dental. Our dentist can easily fix the issue by adjusting the filling to match your bite.

#4 An Unfinished Root Canal

Some teeth can have multiple canals, and it is possible for your dentist to miss one or more of these during root canal therapy. In these circumstances, the initial cause of your pain has never been addressed, so you will still experience pain after your procedure. If this happens, you need to come back to your dental clinic as soon as possible to properly address the problem.

#5 Damage to Surrounding Tissue

During a root canal, tissue damage can occur if bacteria are accidentally spread to surrounding tissue, if a file used to clean the inside of the tooth slips past the root tip, or if too much filling material is used. If this is the case, the pain will subside as the damaged tissue heals, and you should not need to visit your dentist for a checkup unless the pain persists.

Root canal therapy is an effective way to address problems caused by damage or infection to the tooth pulp. In most cases, pain is alleviated after getting root canal therapy. However, if your tooth pain continues after root canal therapy, these common issues may explain the pain. In many cases, your tooth pain will subside on its own, but if the pain is excessive or continues for longer than five days, speak to a dental professional as soon as possible.

At Forest Lake Family Dental, our team of dedicated dental professionals is here to help you in any way possible. If you are feeling pain or have any questions about root canal therapy, don’t hesitate to contact our clinic and book a consultation today!