Phantom tooth pain after root canal

Phantom tooth pain is a deafferentation pain disorder of persistent toothache in teeth that have been denervated (usually by root canal treatment ) or pain in the area formerly occupied by teeth prior to their extraction. Whether it’s a root canal , extraction , or filling, phantom tooth pain is the result of a damaged or dysfunctioning nerve that sends signs to the brain saying that there is pain in a tooth that may no longer be there. Phantom tooth pain , also known as Atypical Odontalgia, occurs in an area of the mouth where tooth extraction has recently taken place. Though the tooth itself is gone and the actual source of pain removed , the gum and jaw area where the tooth was located can continue to ache, similar to the way a patient with an amputated limb may feel pain in the area where the limb used to be.

This “phantom pain” is caused when the nerve leading to the tooth that received root canal treatment is still attached to the tooth nerve even if the nerve endings in the tooth’s roots have been removed. Like an amputee who feels “phantom pain” in a limb that has been remove the nerve will feel like the tooth is infected or sick even when it is not. Unfortunately, damage already existed in the surrounding nerves and the procedure simply exacerbated the nerve endings.

This is why many patients experience high levels of frustration. Other terms have been used to describe similar tooth-related pain presentations , such as idiopathic periodontalgia 2 idiopathic odontalgia 3 and atypical odontalgia. In this research protocol, the term.

When it does not, frustration is completely understandable. Why Does My Tooth Hurt ? In most cases, tooth pain after a root canal is due to tissue inflammation, but not indicative of an active infection. The most common source of pain after a root canal is the inflammation of tissues around the tooth’s root. If the root tip itself was infected before the root canal , there’s probably room for a little excess cement and you’ll never know it was overfilled. If the tooth was not infected around the tip of the root , that’s when overfilling is likely to cause pain after a root canal.

A root canal involves deep cleaning inside the canals (the inner chamber of the root ) of your tooth , which can in turn irritate surrounding nerves and gums. The pain shouldn’t last forever. One can purchase over the counter analgesic or pain killers to relieve the pain in the tooth. Avoid hard or chewy foods- Avoid eating foods that require chewing or biting for several days after root canal treatment.

But for Stacy, the aggressive and overwhelming “dental treatment” she needed for a natural smile and healthy teeth may have contributed to a condition known as Atypical Odontalgia, otherwise known as phantom tooth pain. This pain sometimes occurs after a root canal or a tooth extraction. Three attempts at a root canal on a back lower molar, there was a hidden fourth root , and the infection would not clear. The abscess was large and so painful. Finally after months of pain , multiple visits to the dentist and endo, months of antibiotics, I had the tooth pulled.

They can adjust the filling so it better matches your other teeth. If you have pulpitis that doesn’t resolve on its own after a few weeks, you may need a root canal. Hi Everyone, and thanks to all for the kind wishes! My friends were teasing me that I should have put these teeth under the pillow in the hopes that a generous tooth fairy would have left me the thousands of dollars I have spent on them.

But even after the offending nerve tissue has been remove painful sensory input still comes from the same area. After a root canal is complete no living nerve tissue remains inside the tooth , but nerve endings remain in the ligaments that attach the tooth to the surrounding bone. These ligaments have nerve fiber associated with them that can feel pain.

They are the source of any post root canal pain. It’s still possible to bite down and crack the root or an existing crack under the crown may grow down the root. This may cause pain when biting down on the crown in certain ways. Sometimes the pain will come and go. As a general rule, the more painful a tooth was before treatment, the more likely it is that you will experience a stronger tooth pain after the root canal therapy.

The existing inflammation of the periodontal ligaments around the root tips of the infected tooth is the most common cause of tooth pain after root canal treatment. After root canal treatment tooth root is very sensitive and delicate so avoid chewing food before placing a crown. Pain after root canal procedure can subside within few days or a week.

In the first few days after root canal treatment (also termed RCT or endodontics), it is quite normal to experience some pain. Any pain should be mil and the tooth may be tender to touch or bite down on. Likewise the gum around the tooth may feel tender,.