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Should I Still Have Pain After a Tooth Extraction?

In March, my dentist extracted a broken upper right root canal tooth. She cut the tooth in sections for easier removal. I still have pain in the side of my face every evening. I have some numbness on the right side of my face and occasional earaches. My dentist prescribed a pain reliever, but it didn’t help. Is there something my dentist is missing?

Tami,

Pain after an extraction should not linger longer than a week. If you have felt pain since March, something is wrong.

What Causes Lingering Pain After Tooth Extraction?

A dry socket or an infection is the most frequent cause of lingering pain after a tooth extraction. A dentist would need to examine the extraction site and take an X-ray to identify the cause of your discomfort.

  • Dry socket – When the blood clot at the extraction site dislodges, it exposes nerves and causes intense pain.
  • Infection – Bacteria can enter the extraction site and cause inflammation and pain.

Antibiotics for Lingering Pain

Antibiotics can help treat an infection. Pain from an extraction can transfer into your jaw or other teeth. However, your mouth should not feel numb.

What to expect—A strong antibiotic like clindamycin can treat the infection. Use the medication as directed to prevent a recurring infection.

Get a Second Opinion If Necessary

If you want a second opinion, please see a dentist promptly. Otherwise, the infection will continue to spread to other teeth, the supporting bone, and possibly into your bloodstream.

Rocky Hill, Connecticut, cosmetic dentist Dr. Thaddeus Michalski sponsors this post. Read how he strives to provide patients with some of the best dental care in Rocky Hill.

Dentist Can’t See Any Canals in My Tooth and Wants to Extract It

I have an upper right molar tooth with a cap on it. At my six-month dental appointment, my dentist said she didn’t see any canals in the tooth and that without the canal, she would need to extract the tooth because he couldn’t do a root canal. Although I’ve taken antibiotics, the tooth is still uncomfortable. I’ve researched the issue and found information on root calcification. Could this be why my dentist can’t see the canals in my tooth? Is extraction needed? – Thanks. Bethany from Syracuse, NY

Bethany,

Antibiotics alone will not remove a tooth infection, so we are unsure about your dentist’s diagnosis. If your tooth has been painful, it would likely need root canal treatment. After you stop taking antibiotics, the pain will recur because your dentist has not addressed the source of the tooth infection.

Diagram of root canal therapy for a comparsion of root canal and extraction with a dental implant
Root canal treatment

Your dentist’s inability to see canals in the tooth doesn’t mean canals don’t exist. The bone around upper molar teeth can make it challenging to see canals.

If you want to know if the tooth is savable, get a second opinion from an endodontist (root canal specialist). Also, you can ask your dentist to refer you to an endodontist. You may prefer a specialist not affiliated with your dentist to get an independent opinion of your tooth’s condition.

What is Canal Calcification?

Canal calcification is a process that occurs with age, causing a tooth’s canals to shrink. If a tooth is irritated, a buildup of dentin in the pulp chamber and canals will narrow or block the canals, making them more challenging to find on an X-ray. Narrow canals can also make root canal treatment more challenging. An endodontist’s experience and specialized tools that navigate calcified canals can benefit you.

See an endodontist before agreeing to an extraction, which requires some form of tooth replacement, such as a bridge or dental implant.

Rocky Hill, Connecticut, cosmetic dentist Dr. Thaddeus Michalski sponsors this post. Read how he strives to provide patients with some of the best dental care in Rocky Hill.

My Dentist’s Misdiagnosis Led to Unnecessary Tooth Extraction

Young man with his head down portraying disappointment over an unnecessary tooth extractionI was sensitive to cold foods and drinks in my lower right first molar, and my toothache felt worse if I touched the tooth. Since I didn’t have a regular dentist, I used an advertising dentist I had seen on TV and billboards.

The dentist said I had three impacted wisdom teeth, and one may be pushing on a nerve. He also recommended a filling in my tooth. After the filling, my tooth pain increased, so the dentist adjusted my bite and prescribed antibiotics. He told me to take over-the-counter pain medications. The tooth didn’t improve, so the dentist referred me to an oral surgeon for wisdom tooth removal. The first molar tooth still hurts, and I explained that the pain is not near my wisdom teeth.

Two days later, I went to the ER, and they took an X-ray, explaining that I had an abscess. My dentist referred me to an endodontist who was booked for three weeks. The oral surgeon agreed that I had an abscess but recommended an extraction since I couldn’t get a root canal. Now, I have lost a tooth and am out of hundreds of dollars for this nonsense. How can I get my money back? – Thank you. Ryan

 

Ryan,

Your dentist made severe mistakes in diagnosing and treating your oral pain. We recommend demanding that the dentist pay for your oral surgeon and ER visits and the cost of a dental implant to replace your missing first molar. Explain that you are willing to file a malpractice claim for damages.

Dental Diagnostic and Treatment Mistakes

The mistakes your dentist made with your first molar toothache include the following:

  • Failure to recommend root canal treatment – Your toothache, increased pain when touched, and temperature sensitivity indicated that you needed root canal treatment. Bacteria caused tooth inflammation and probably spread to the root tip, which would cause sensitivity.
  • Unnecessary dental filling and antibiotics —Your dentist placed a filling for deep decay and adjusted your bite. Also, the antibiotic prescriptions suggest that he may have thought you had a tooth infection yet did not recommend root canal treatment or refer you to an endodontist. Still, antibiotics alone do not remedy a tooth infection—root canal treatment does.
  • Facial swelling—After seeing your swelling, it should have been clear that you had an infection. However, you had to go to the ER for help. Your dentist still didn’t drill an opening in your tooth to relieve your pain, which would have helped.
  • Referral to an endodontist who couldn’t help promptly – Finally, after getting a referral, the endodontist couldn’t see you for two weeks. Your dentist should have done everything possible to find a specialist for prompt treatment.

What Can You Do If Your Dentist’s Treatment Was Unnecessary?

If your dentist’s treatment was unnecessary, you may allow them to pay for it before filing a legal claim. Your dentist should be willing to pay to replace your mistakenly extracted tooth with a dental implant. If your dentist is uncooperative, you may seek an attorney. Replacing the tooth is vital to prevent other teeth from drifting. Otherwise, the issue may disrupt your bite and lead to TMJ disorder.

Dr. Thaddeus Michalski, a Rocky Hill, Connecticut dentist and Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, sponsors this post.