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Bacteria can often accumulate around leftover food debris in your mouth, forming plaque, a dangerous substance that causes cavities. Removing a cavity is fairly easy. However, it can still be a traumatic event for your tooth, causing an ache and discomfort in the area. If the pain persists months after restoration, you should consider a root canal treatment near you.

Large cavities frequently spread to the nerves of your tooth, leaving leftover infection and pain even after a filling restoration. When this occurs, removing the tooth's interior may be the only way to stop the pain and prevent a dental extraction.

The Importance of Fillings During Cavity Removal

Brushing after every meal, flossing daily, and visiting your dentist regularly are the secrets to a healthy smile. Keeping your teeth clean can prevent plaque buildup, which contains bacteria that erode your enamel and cause cavities.

However, even with the best care practices, tooth decay can still occur.

In these situations, removing the decayed tissue is needed to stop it from spreading, protecting both the remaining integrity of the tooth and the future of the surrounding tissues. If ignored, tooth decay can spread, often resulting in pain, chronic bad breath, and tooth loss.

Therefore, dentists recommend removing cavities immediately and filling them with a restorative material like composite resin to protect oral health.

Why Does My Tooth Hurt After Cavity Removal?

Removing decayed enamel tissue is crucial to protect your teeth long-term. However, when the infection extends deep into the tooth structure, patients can leave the dental office with more discomfort than they experienced initially.  

Your tooth’s nerves are very sensitive. The heat of the drill, the weight of your restoration, and various factors can leave it inflamed and reactive after cavity removal. This causes patients to experience dental sensitivity after dental treatments. This discomfort, however, should subside over time.  

Sometimes, the restoration doesn’t match precisely with the top tooth, causing discomfort when eating. When this happens, you should call your dentist to improve the fit. If all of these options have been explored and your discomfort persists, the inside of your tooth may be infected. You would need a root canal to address this.

What Is Root Canal Therapy and How Does It Work?

A root canal is a dental procedure to remove inflamed or infected pulp inside the tooth. The pulp, which supports tooth growth, comprises blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves. When cavities get big enough, they extend to this sensitive material, causing discomfort and risking spreading the infection to your jawbone and bloodstream.

Once the teeth have emerged through the gums, the nerves are no longer essential to their health and function. The primary function is to provide sensation to help control the amount of force when chewing.

For that reason, when a tooth becomes infected, we can remove the infected nerve tissue through a root canal procedure. This prevents the infection from spreading further and prevents the tooth from being extracted.

Need a Root Canal Treatment Near You? Don’t Put it Off

Experiencing some degree of discomfort after a cavity removal is common, especially if it was a big one. The tooth nerves are sensitive and often react in unpredictable ways. In this situation, asking your dentist at La Cantera Dental Group for over-the-counter painkillers can help you manage the pain.

Nevertheless, if the discomfort continues, a root canal may be necessary to restore the health of your smile. If you suspect that’s your case, contact us to schedule an appointment!