Does pain in a tooth with a root canal necessarily mean the procedure has failed?

Question

I had a root canal ten with a metal crown on my upper left premolar (molar was removed) ten years ago, and it has been fine up to this point. As of yesterday, it was sore when I put pressure on it to chew. This problem appeared suddenly. I'm wondering if maybe it's just sore from my retainer - I had braces off last year. Perhaps this is wishful thinking. The crown looks fine, and the root is supposed to be dead, right? There are no emergency dental services in my rural area, it's Friday evening, and I can't get to a dentist until next week. What can I do so I can eat in the meantime? It hurts for my tooth to even touch the bottom tooth beneath it, much less chew, even on the other side. Do you think my root canal has failed? I would appreciate answers from those with specific training in dentistry or who have dealt with this experience. General know-it-alls, please direct your talents elsewhere.

Answer 1

It's hard to say without seeing an xray, but it sounds like there may be a problem with the root canal.  If it is that sore, if it persists until next week (when you can see a dentist), you definitely need to get it checked.

In the meanwhile, ibuprofen is a good pain medication to take.

As for the root canal or pain, there are several possibilities.

Hopefully you don't have a vertical root fracture.  This is when the root fractures vertically (along the length of the tooth) and is more common in teeth that have had root canals.  If this happens, the tooth will need to be extracted.

As for root canals themselves, if there is a problem with the root canal, it may need to be retreated or you may need some kind of endodontic surgery.

It doesn't sound like your retainer, but you never know.

On the other hand, it could also be from something like grinding your teeth, getting something stuck under your gum, trauma, or even another tooth.  It is very common to have pain referred from one tooth to a completely different area.  I know it sounds illogical, but it happens all the time.

Yes, this is all speculation because it's almost impossible to tell without a full examination, but if it does persis through the weekend; definitely get it checked asap.

Good luck.