My General Dentist Used A Light Curette To Clean Out

Posted on Sun, 12 Jul 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : My general dentist used a light curette to clean out 2 pockets in the gum 3 days ago. The gum around the tooth is of course sore but what is odd is that the two teeth on the bottom next to where he worked seem to be hurting (and both have been checked and prior root canal). Two part question. Is it possible for teeth to hurt (and tingle type feeling) near the site where gum was cut and if so, why? Also, approx. how long for that area to heal - this was not deep periodontal work, just the dentist cleaning out as best he could some of the pocket area in gum. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Postoperative senstivity. Nothing to be worried . Follow these measures

Detailed Answer:
Hello ,
Thanks for consulting Ask a doctor service.
This is Dr Priyanka tiwari answering your query .

I have read your query and understand your concern. As far as pain in adjacent tooth after 3 days of currettage is concerned this can be due to deep cleaning done by dentist and there might be post operative senstivity. Not to worry it might last for 2 to 3 days .

For this i will suggest you few measures
- Do warm saline rinses 2 to 3 times a day .
- Apply ointment like Gum paint or Rexidine M forte gel on gums 2 times a day .
- Use Senstivity toothpaste like Thermoseal RA or colgate sensitive pro relief to brush your teeth.

Follow these measures for one week if symptoms persists then consult your dentist for clinical examination and evaluation.

Hope this will help you.
If you have further query i will be happy to help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (16 hours later)

Hi, doctor and thank u for your answer. On a totally unrelated matter, another question. I have a front tooth (I believe doctor said #9) that had root canal done over a year ago but has remained tender off and on. It is not hot/cold sensitive nor does it hurt to bite down. Only issue is some tenderness there. My general dentist saw on x-ray what he said is borderline overfill at apex - just a tiny amount of over-filling. He suggested that could be the cause of tenderness and said he will try to get that piece out, irrigate it. I also have trigeminal neuralgia going on in that area for some time now. My question is this - can a small amount of filling cause tenderness in this tooth and also do u feel it is all from the neuralgia?

Answered by Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Seems like periodontal (gum) problem or due to over filling of root canal.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome again

I have read your query and understand your concern as far as tenderness in upper front tooth after root canal treatment is concerned this can be due to over filling of root or it can be due to periodontal pocket if present with associated tooth or adjacent tooth.
I don't think so it can be due to neuralgia . If you have xray with you kindly upload in report section so that it will be easy for me to give you proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Hope this will help you
If you have further query i will be happy to help.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (20 hours later)

Unfortunately, I'm unable to upload an x-ray. However, just one more general question. Since I trust my general dentist more than the endo who admitted to the overfill, I feel more comfortable with general dentist cleaning out canal. Question is does a general dentist have the tools to do this and also, he said he would do no drilling, just use a file to get that last piece of overfill by apex. He said drilling may push material further into canal. With hardened filling material like that, how can a file penetrate that to remove it?

Answered by Dr. Priyanka Tiwari (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Detailed below .

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome again .

I have read your query as far as removal of filling from root apex without drilling through canal is concerned this can be done by an apicoectomy, an endodontic surgery, performed when a root canal treatment fails. Another treatment option is removal of overfilling is use of Chloroform that rapidly softens gutta percha and, in conjunction with files, allows for the removal of gutta percha in a crown-down manner. With the canals filled with chloroform bath then paper points are utilized to wick residual gutta percha and sealers from the more inaccessible regions of the root canal system.

2- As far as question regarding having tools is concerned it depends on dentist own setup. It doesnt depend on its speciality or general practice.

Hope this will help you .
If you have further query i will be happy to help.

Note: Find out which dental treatment will work best for your teeth. Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad