This is a common question we get asked. A root canal treatment involves the removal of the “nerve” of the tooth, which is really just the flesh that is inside a tooth. The technical term for this flesh is the “pulp”.
It is true that the tooth itself will loose all feeling, so it no longer has any feeling to temperature and we can do crowns and fillings on root canal treated teeth without any anaesthetic.
However, teeth are held inside your jaws by bone. The roots are surrounded by your jaw bone and gums; these are still alive and has full feeling. So that is why a tooth that’s had a root canal therapy can still experience pain. But the pain will only be from biting, tapping and possibly a consistent ache. Hot and cold foods or drinks will not have any effect.
The reason why the bone and gums can hurt is almost always due to infection. The most common causes of this infection are a reinfected root canal, a cracked tooth/root and gum disease.
A reinfected root canal can be treated by redoing the root canal.
A cracked tooth or root usually has a poor prognosis and oftentimes will need to be removed.
Gum disease will require scaling and good daily oral hygiene.
