Can a root canal start hurting again

Root canal treatment removes infected pulp from the canals, cleans and shapes them, and seals them with filling material. Later pain may come from a new cavity, a leaking crown or filling, a missed canal, a fracture, or an abscess in the bone near the root tip.

Avoid chewing hard foods on that tooth and keep brushing and cleaning between the teeth. A dentist may examine the restoration, test nearby teeth, take dental radiographs, and treat the cause with a new filling, root canal retreatment, crack management, or removal when the tooth cannot be restored.

Arrange an examination when pain lasts, returns with chewing, or is accompanied by swelling, a bad taste, or a draining spot on the gum. Seek urgent care for facial swelling, fever, difficulty swallowing, or difficulty breathing.

Ask whether the pain is coming from the treated tooth or a neighbor, whether imaging shows infection or a crack, and whether the existing crown or filling seals the tooth. Ask which treatment can preserve the tooth and what changes if a fracture is found.