December 2012 - Dental Care at Flint's Crossing

I had a root canal done a year ago, but my tooth is still hurting. My dentist said the root canal looks fine. What could be causing the aching?

Karen P.- Boise, ID

Karen,

There are several reasons a tooth could still hurt after a root canal treatment. It is possible the crown is seated too high. Have your dentist check your bite. If you bite down on a crown that is seated too high, it could cause the tooth to hurt.

Another possibility is that you grind or clench your teeth at night. Your dentist can look for signs of grinding. If that is the case, he or she can make you a night guard to protect your teeth and that should help deal with the pain.

There is also the chance that the tooth is cracked. This is kind of difficult to diagnose, so if the other things don’t pan out, you may need to see an endodontist.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.

I had this bad experience and am wondering if this happens to a competent dentist. After he took an impression of my lower teeth, he wasn’t able to get the mold off. It took almost forty minutes. I can’t even begin to describe what we went through to get it off. For a short time I was afraid my jaw might break.

Denise L.- from Mississippi

Denise,

What happened is a little embarrassing for your dentist, but has happened to almost every dentist. What happens is the putty pushes the wash into the fine crevices in order to pick up the tiniest details in the impression. It’s possible for the putty to get into any undercuts, especially if you have a dental bridge somewhere. If that happens, it can be difficult to remove. I wouldn’t lose confidence in your dentist over it.

This blog is brought to you by Auburn, Alabama Dentist Dr. Raymond Bolt.

Problem with tooth after root canal

Bad experience with impression

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