Some tenderness or discomfort can occur after root canal treatment (RCT). Every patient and every tooth responds differently, so the level and duration of discomfort can vary.
For many patients, the treated tooth and surrounding area may feel tender when biting, chewing or touching the tooth during the first few days after treatment. This does not necessarily mean that something is wrong with the tooth.
During root canal treatment, inflamed or infected tissue from inside the tooth is removed and the root canal system is cleaned and treated.
Although the dental pulp, sometimes referred to as the tooth’s “nerve”, has been removed, the tooth remains surrounded by living tissues.
These include the periodontal ligament and tissues surrounding the root of the tooth, which contain nerve endings and can become inflamed or sensitive.
This is why a root canal-treated tooth may still feel tender to pressure or biting even though the pulp has been removed.
The sensation is generally coming from the tissues around the tooth rather than from the pulp inside it.
Post-treatment symptoms vary considerably.
You may experience:
tenderness around the treated tooth
sensitivity when biting or chewing
a feeling that the tooth is slightly different when you bite
mild aching or discomfort around the treatment area.
Some patients experience little discomfort, while others may notice sensitivity during the first few days.
A tooth that was painful or significantly inflamed before treatment may take longer to settle than a tooth that had few or no symptoms before treatment.
Some teeth requiring root canal treatment do not cause noticeable pain.
For example, an infection or changes around the root of a tooth may sometimes be identified during a dental examination or on a dental radiograph even when the patient has experienced few symptoms.
After the root canal system has been cleaned and treated, the tissues surrounding the root may temporarily become sensitive or inflamed. As a result, a tooth that was previously comfortable can occasionally feel tender following treatment.
There is no single recovery period that applies to every patient.
Tenderness often reduces progressively as the tissues surrounding the tooth settle. Some teeth may remain sensitive to pressure for longer, particularly where significant inflammation or infection was present before treatment.
Your recovery can also depend on factors such as:
the condition of the tooth before treatment
the extent of inflammation or infection
the complexity of the root canal system
the treatment performed
the way the tooth responds during healing
pressure placed on the tooth during biting or chewing.
Your endodontist will provide post-operative instructions relevant to your individual treatment.
If your discomfort is severe, increasing or not settling as expected, further guidance is available on our Pain Control page, or you can contact JCV Endodontics directly.
JCV Endodontics provides specialist assessment and treatment of conditions involving the dental pulp and tissues surrounding the roots of teeth.
Post-operative symptoms need to be considered in the context of the individual tooth and the treatment performed. Information on this page is therefore intended as general post-operative guidance and does not replace advice provided specifically to you by your endodontist.
If you have recently undergone root canal treatment at JCV Endodontics and are concerned about your symptoms, contact the practice for advice relevant to your treatment.