During endodontic treatment, a person may encounter a situation where a tooth hurts after cleaning the canal. To those who do not know the intricacies of the procedure, this fact seems surprising. After all, how can a tooth be disturbed after a nerve is removed?
That is why we will talk about the process of treating pulpitis, consider the causes of pain and, most importantly, tell you how to alleviate the condition in such cases.
When canals are cleaned
In dental practice, endodontic treatment of a dental unit is carried out both for the purpose of subsequent restoration of the crown part with filling materials, and in preparation for prosthetics. Consider in detail when channel cleaning is required.
- When caries turns into pulpitis. Lack of timely treatment leads to the fact that the infection affects the nerve of the tooth. In this case, the root canals must be thoroughly cleaned, disinfected and hermetically filled with a specialmaterial.
- When preparing a dental unit for prosthetics. Previously, the removal of the nerve was mandatory. In modern dentistry, depulpation is performed only when necessary, if certain types of orthodontic structures are planned to be installed.
- When periodontitis (infection affects tissue outside the root) cleaning of the channels is required. This usually happens with units that have previously undergone depulpation, during which mistakes were made.
- In case of injuries resulting in significant destruction of the coronal part and exposure of the nerve.
All these situations call for channel cleaning. Therefore, the procedure in dentistry is quite common. Almost everyone has experienced it at least once in their life.
Algorithm of the channel cleaning procedure
In order to understand whether a tooth should hurt after cleaning the canals, you need to know how the procedure is carried out. Consider the treatment algorithm.
- The doctor applies anesthesia in the area of the diseased tooth, as root canal cleaning is quite painful.
- Then dissects the diseased tissue to form a cavity.
- The chamber of the tooth is opened.
- The nerve is removed by the devital or vital method. The choice of method depends on the location of the tooth and the degree of its destruction.
- Infected tissues are carefully removed from the canals.
- The cavities are treated with antiseptic solutions, etched to improve the adhesion of the filling material to living tissues.
- Channelshermetically filled with special paste.
- Then, the doctor restores the anatomical shape of the tooth with filling material.
Endodontic treatment is a complex process that requires high qualification and accuracy from the doctor. Removal of the nerve is performed almost "blindly". The dentist has to work with a part of the tooth that is not visible. The channel is hidden inside the unit, it is impossible to look into it with the naked eye.
Only recently in dentistry began to use special equipment that allows you to control the process of cleaning and filling the root cavity with filling material.
Can a tooth hurt after root canal cleaning?
Experiencing discomfort after nerve removal, a person does not always understand whether this is normal. In fact, pain after endodontic treatment almost always occurs. You just need to learn to distinguish when discomfort is the norm, and when a doctor's intervention is required.
Most often, a tooth hurts after cleaning the canals and filling due to the mechanical effect on the soft tissues of the gums during the procedure. However, it should not be too intense. The normal reaction of the body to the intervention is considered to be moderate aching pain, which subsides every day. Or there is a feeling of fullness in the area of the processed unit.
When a tooth hurts after cleaning the canals when pressing on it, there may be several reasons for this phenomenon. First, it is a trauma to the gum tissue. Secondly, discomfort arises frompoor channel processing. Thirdly, the patient develops an allergic reaction to the filling material.
If a tooth hurts after cleaning the canal, you should pay attention to whether there are additional symptoms of inflammation. In case of redness of the gums, swelling of the tissues around the unit, discomfort or itching, you should immediately contact your dentist.
Next, let's take a closer look at why a tooth hurts after cleaning the canals.
Filling material goes beyond the root
Not so long ago, the treatment of chronic pulpitis, periodontitis was carried out somewhat differently. Removal of the filling material was considered the correct approach. Now experts are trying not to do this. In most cases, a tooth hurts after cleaning the canal precisely because of the removal of the filling material beyond the top of the root.
Such a doctor's mistake during treatment is allowed for several reasons:
- insufficient equipment of the dental office with modern equipment;
- if the channel length was determined incorrectly;
- using a mechanical device to fill prepared holes at high speeds;
- violation in canal processing (lack of apical ledge);
- resorption of the root apex, formed under the long-term influence of the inflammatory process.
For whatever reason the material is taken out of the stabilization system of the unit, it always provokes post-filling pain. Most often associatedsymptoms are fever, swelling of the gums around the tooth.
Incorrectly sealed canal
Unlike the previously discussed cause, the pain in this case does not occur immediately. If the channel is not completely filled with paste, over time, bacteria multiply in its voids, provoking inflammation.
Discomfort begins to bother the patient after a few months or even years. Most often, people complain that a tooth hurts after cleaning the channels when pressing or biting on hard food.
Improper treatment is dangerous because for a long time a person does not realize that an infectious focus is ripening inside the body. If the error is eliminated in a short time, then the pain quickly passes. When a patient lives with such a tooth for a long time, a granuloma or cyst forms at the top of the root. These formations require separate treatment, perhaps even surgically.
Part of the tool breaks off at the root
A tooth can hurt after treatment due to the breakage of an endodontic instrument during canal cleaning. If the doctor does not remove this part, but simply fills the cavity, then after some time or immediately after the anesthesia ceases to act, the patient will experience discomfort.
If a piece of the instrument remains in the canal, the doctor cannot remove the nerve completely. Rinse with antiseptic solutions will also not work. As a result of such endodontic treatment, sensitivity will either remain at the root or develop over time.inflammation. The infectious focus will signal itself not only with pain, but also with swelling, fever.
Root perforation
This mistake is often made by dentists even in modern clinics. Everything is explained by the replacement of hand tools with mechanical equipment. Without sufficient experience, using a rotating tip when cleaning canals, the doctor may violate the integrity of the wall.
Usually at this moment, the patient, even after anesthesia, feels pain, reminiscent of an injection in the gum. In this case, the tooth begins to bleed heavily.
When a root is perforated, the doctor must "patch" the hole with a special calcium-containing paste. If these manipulations are not carried out, the tooth will hurt a lot after the anesthesia stops working.
Development of an allergic reaction
If a tooth hurts after cleaning the canal, then the reason for this may be a reaction to the filling material. Recently, among patients there are many allergic people. Therefore, the reaction to the paste is recorded quite often.
When developing an allergy to filling material, a person experiences pain almost immediately after the anesthesia wears off. Often it cannot be stopped by taking medication.
Associated symptoms are swelling of the gums in the area of the treated unit. In severe cases, it spreads to the cheek and neck. The reaction may be accompanied by soft tissue itching.
How long the tooth hurtsafter channel cleaning
Knowing the time limits within which discomfort after endodontic treatment is considered normal, you can seek help in a timely manner if something goes wrong. How long do teeth hurt after root canal cleaning? The answer depends on the clinical picture, the presence of complications before going to the doctor, the sensitivity of the patient.
On average, the pain should go away in a few days. It will also become less intense. If on the fourth day it does not go away, and the sensations bother the patient more and more every day, you should immediately contact your doctor.
Painkillers
It is advisable to take medication for toothache only in the first 3-4 days after the procedure. They will help relieve discomfort after the anesthesia wears off. Usually dentists recommend drinking the following drugs:
- Ketanov.
- Dicofenac.
- Nise.
- Baralgin.
- Spazmolgon.
- Ibuprofen.
In inflammatory processes, in some cases, antibiotics are prescribed after endodontic treatment. This is necessary to stop the development of infection. Accordingly, the patient recovers from the acute condition after treatment much faster and easier. These drugs include Augmentin, Flemoxin, Cifran, Lincomycin.
Take antibacterial drugs only on the recommendation of a doctor, observing the dosage and duration of therapy. Do not stop treatment prematurely, even if the patient feels he althy.
Rinses
When a tooth hurts a lot after cleaning the canal, solutions for rinsing the mouth will help alleviate the condition. The easiest option is to prepare the remedy yourself.
It is necessary to dissolve 1 teaspoon of soda and s alt in a glass of boiled water. Rinsing is performed up to 8 times a day. They will help relieve swelling of injured gum tissue, relieve pain, and prevent the development of inflammation.
Rinse solution can be purchased ready-made. In dentistry, the drugs "Rotokan", "Chlorhexidine", "Chlorophyllipt" are usually used. The finished product is diluted in warm, boiled water immediately before rinsing the mouth.
Folk remedies for toothache
Let's look at some of the most effective recipes to relieve discomfort after endodontic treatment.
Strong green tea with garlic helps relieve pain very quickly. It also prevents the development of inflammation. To prepare it, mince 5 cloves of garlic. In a glass of water, brew 1 tablespoon of tea. After 10 minutes, garlic is introduced into it and left for another 10-15 minutes.
Use such medicine for rinsing. A few minutes after the procedure, the person feels relief. You can repeat rinsing up to 8 times a day.
Another way to quickly get rid of toothache after treatment is to apply a lotion of valerian infusion. You can use the finished product for alcohol. For pain relieftooth, a few drops of valerian tincture are placed on a cotton swab. Then for 5 minutes it is applied to the gum near the treated unit. You can repeat the procedures 5-6 times a day.
Doctor's recommendation
When the nerve of the tooth hurts, after cleaning the canals, the dentist gives some tips that must be strictly observed. His recommendations are aimed at eliminating the development of inflammation, complications after treatment and the speedy rehabilitation of the patient.
- After removing the nerve, do not eat for 3 hours.
- Forbid physical activity for the first time 2 days.
- The patient should monitor oral hygiene: brush teeth at least 2 times a day, use floss, antiseptic rinses.
- In the first 3 days, you need to be attentive to changes in well-being. If the pain does not go away or, on the contrary, intensifies, then self-medication is impossible. The sooner the patient turns to the dentist, the easier it will be to fix the problem.
In conclusion, it remains to be noted that careful oral care and preventive examination every six months minimize the risk of developing pulpitis or other diseases requiring nerve removal.
