AboutFrederick R. Liewehr DDS, MS, FICD Expertise I can answer your questions about root canal therapy in general. PLEASE DO NOT ask me to diagnose your particular problems or recommend treatment as I cannot do this without examining you and seeing your x-rays.
Experience I am a Board-certified endodontist, former university department Chairman, teach dental residents, and have a private practice.
Question My dentist told me that my #2 molar had 4 cracks in it and needed to be crowned so I had it done 5 weeks ago. Prior to the crown prep, I had no discomfort in this tooth at all but since then, I have been in constant pain. It is very sensitive to cold and hot and both trigger increased pain that lingers. I have talked to my dentist twice and he told me he had to drill deeper than usual to get below the cracks. He advised me to take an 8 day course of prednisone for the inflammation. (Is this a standard practice? I am 57 years old and have never been offered this medication by a dentist before). I was reluctant to take it, so have been controlling the pain mainly with advil (works best), sometimes tylenol. Another x-ray was taken last week and I was told the tooth looks fine - no infection. I would like to understand what is causing the pain. I have been waiting for it to "settle down" as I was advised it would do in a few weeks. How long should I wait and do you think I should see a specialist? Thank you so much for your time.
Answer You have what is known as an irreversible pulpitis, meaning that the tissue inside the tooth (the "nerve") is inflamed. The solution to this is root canal therapy. It is very unlikely that prednisone will do anything. No infection is involved, just an inflamed pulp. I suggest that you see an endodontist, who is a specialist in this area.
