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Dentistry - tooth sensitivity after root canal
Expert: Gary Backlund, DMD, MSD - 11/4/2009
Question
I recently made several trips in to see my dentist to have a lot of work done on my mouth. The last 2 trips were for some crown work on my 2 lower left molars. The gold crown feels great, it is the tooth with the porcelain crown that is giving me some trouble. After I had the permanent crowns in place I developed an abscess on the tooth with the porcelain crown. To treat it, my dentist did a root canal and sent me on my way. This root canal was more tender than any previous and I attributed it to all the work the tooth had done to it recently and babied the left side of my mouth. It has been about 2 months since I have had this done and the tooth is super sensitive to hot and cold, anything that is not the temperature of the inside of my mouth will affect the tooth and the sensitivity/pain varies on the temperature of what touches that molar.
If the root canal was successful, am I supposed to feel any sensitivity? Is it possible that some of the root was left after the root canal and the abscess has come back?
Answer
Hi Stephanie,
I'm sorry you're going through all this. Unfortunately, I have some bad news for you.....your problems are coming from another tooth! Once a root canal is done, no matter how well or how poorly, there is no mechanism left inside the tooth to transmit cold and hot sensations...the nerve has been removed. You can check this for yourself, in front of a bathroom mirror, with a sliver of ice. Touch each of your teeth in that area, down near the gum, and you will soon find out where the problem is. I would guess you will probably need another root canal. You might want to ask for a referral to an endodontist to get all this fixed once and for all....it sounds like you have been through enough already.
Sorry for the bad news.
Gary Backlund DMD, MSD
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