Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 11/28/2006

Question
I had a root canal done the end of August. (On my front crowned tooth.) I was feeling sensitivity to hot drinks so decided I better get checked. Unfortunately for me, My crown was cracked during the procedure and now has to be replaced. I am waiting for this tooth to calm down before I can have this done. I have returned to have the root canal checked due to experiencing feelings in the tooth and was told that everything looks good and he feels  that the cause of my sensitivity is due to my gums. (The only thing that was a problem before the root canal was sensitivity to hot drinks which I no longer feel.) I am not experiencing pain but I am very aware of this tooth which I feel I shouldn't be!!How long do I wait for this tooth to calm down so I can  go ahead with the new crown!Thank You,

Answer
Dear Corrine,

There is no one correct answer to your question. The success of a root canal treatment outcome must be assessed over a relatively long period of time. Some root canal treatments are without any symptoms from the moment of completion; others show mild symptoms that diminish over time; and then there are the more troublesome cases-- those teeth that continue to be either sore, painful, or just somehow feel "different" from the way they did before. Unfortunately, these teeth may continue to feel different in perpetuity, and there are no authoritative explanations of why, or how these teeth should be managed.

Of course, there are the more obvious failures of a root canal treatment-- a residual abscess that is conspicuous either on x-ray or visually as a bump on the gum. This is something that is easier to assess than the tooth that feels different but appears otherwise normal both visually and radiographically.

One thing is certain, though-- you should not move forward with additional treatment on this tooth until the full nature of your current symptoms can be clarified. Otherwise, you risk wasting any additional time, effort and money spent on the crown if the root canal treatment ultimately proves to be unsuccessful.

If your root canal therapy was not performed by an endodontic specialist, you may wish to consult with one so that a candid and impartial evaluation of your root canal therapy can be made.

Good luck!

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY