Expert: Gary Backlund, DMD, MSD - 10/27/2008

Question
I had a partial root canal (1 of the 3 nerves removed) and have a temporary in place 3 days ago.  3 days out I was doing better and started chewing on it.  It is a little sore, but I am getting a severe shock like pain in the tooth every 20-30 minutes.  I can't figure out what triggers it, but it is not chewing or cold.  It is very severe in intensity.  It last 1-2 seconds and reminds me of the pain I had when a crown was placed (without anesthesia) and the dentist blew air on it and put the glue on.  Any thoughts??

Answer
Hi Tom,

I'm sorry you are experiencing this. We sometimes see this is our office. While I can't say for sure, since I can't examine you, what we tell our patients who are going through this is to imagine that you have had an amputation...which is sort of what the start of a root canal does. The nerve has been severed at some point and there is still a "stub" left that connects to the nerve in your jaw that eventually goes to your brain. Obviously, you can't remove the nerve all the way to your brain, so at some point, there is raw nerve that can throb and act up for awhile. Usually within a few days this sensation will go away as the stub heals. If this should continue, you should call your dentist. In the meantime, aspirin, Tylenol or even better, naproxyn ( Aleve ), if you can take them, will help resolve things.

Hope this helps.

Gary Backlund DMD, MSD