“How long do you have pain after a root canal?”

It depends on a few factors. A single rooted tooth will be back to normal usually in a few days, but a tooth with 2, 3, or 4 roots may take a bit longer. It has to do with how much work has to be done to remove the pulp of the tooth and fill the canal. If the tooth has been infected, that may also delay healing. I usually tell my patients to take ibuprofen every 4 hours for the first 3 days. They should also avoid chewing on the root canal tooth as much as possible. Usually the soreness from root canal treatment eases off every day and often is comfortable after 7-10 days. Doing a root canal can irritate the surrounding tissue that feels pain and pressure. If that happens, your tooth will be very tender to biting and chewing. That's why the ibuprofen helps. Aspirin is good for that as well, but Tylenol and Aleve don't really help that type of discomfort. If the soreness persists for longer than the 7-10 days, see your dentist. Sometimes all it requires is a minor bite adjustment on that tooth to make you feel better sooner. Of course, we always let our patients know that strange infections can develop after root canal treatment. Sometimes our work for the good of the tooth actually "stirs things up" and the patient can experience swelling and pain. That is when you must contact your dentist immediately. But that rarely happens. In fact, I can't remember the last time it did happen. Good luck and don't worry. The procedure is basically like a long filling appointment, and when you're numbed, it can be boring to the point of actually falling asleep in the dental chair! Dr. Conrad