Residual bacterial inflammation is the main cause Visit if inflammation persists beyond 3 months
Wait for tertiary dentin formation time, stabilization in 1 month, recovery in 3 months
Physiologic process, not a treatment issue Avoid strong, irritating foods
After having dental work done, some people complain that “my teeth hurt”. While you may be worried that the treatment was done incorrectly, it’s usually a natural part of your tooth’s healing process. Just like a wound can tingle as it heals, your teeth may be temporarily sensitive during the healing process.
There are two main causes of teething after treatment. The first is an inflammatory reaction inside the pulp (dental nerve), and the second is the development of a structure that allows external stimuli to be easily transmitted to the pulp. Inflammation of the pulp can be caused by a number of things, including thermal irritation during treatment, thin residual dentin, and bacteria left inside the tooth.
Even if the residual hemorrhoids are thin and cause temporary numbness, if you have more than 1 mm of dentin left, it will likely resolve itself in about a month (4-5 weeks).
However, if you have a history of tooth decay and bacteria have gotten inside the tooth, the inflammation in the pulp can be prolonged. A study by Camp et al. in 2000 found that teeth with bacteria in them remained highly inflamed for more than five weeks, while those without bacteria had a significantly reduced inflammatory response after the same period.
This means that persistent soreness is more likely to be caused by “bacterial residue” than “tooth loss”.
The second cause is the development of structures that allow external stimuli to be transmitted to the pulp. If multiple stimuli are applied to the neck of the tooth during the treatment process, exposing the tiny channels that lead to the inside of the tooth, the stimuli can be better transmitted to the inside, causing the tooth to become sensitive.
Alternatively, a microleakage may occur at the interface between the restoration and the tooth, causing tingling. In these cases, the tooth tries to build up its own “tertiary dentin” to block the transmission of impulses, but this process takes time.
Studies have shown that tertiary dentin begins to form rapidly about a month (4-5 weeks) after the procedure, and pain is likely to decrease around 3 months.
The most important thing is to avoid causing additional irritation to the teeth. Avoid cold or hot drinks, foods that are too hard or irritating, and be careful not to chew hard with the affected tooth.
When brushing your teeth, use lukewarm water and brush gently with a soft toothbrush. In general, after a month (4-5 weeks), the inflammation should stabilize, and by 3 months, most of the soreness should be gone.
However, if your symptoms persist or worsen after three months, it’s a good idea to return to your doctor to determine if you need a second treatment or neurotherapy.
In most cases, it’s not a problem with the treatment itself. It’s part of the physiological process of adapting and recovering from external stimuli. Therefore, you shouldn’t be overly concerned and give your teeth time to heal naturally.
