How long does the swelling last?

After the surgical procedure, swelling forms, which can be worrying for the patient. The swelling is the body’s immune response, since the resection also involved tissue damage to reach the root tip. This swelling can persist. During the healing phase, in which the wound closure progresses, the swelling can remain for over a week until it subsides.

How long does the pain last after a root tip resection?

After apicoectomy, the pain can last much longer than the swelling. Thus, there are also patients in whom the pain never subsides again. The treatment is always only an attempt to save the tooth, there is no guarantee of success.

This is why the pain of a less than optimal resection can last permanently until the tooth has to be extracted. Usually the wound pain subsides after about one week with the wound closure and healing. Nevertheless, the operated region can still be hypersensitive and uncomfortable when touched or when food is consumed on the affected side.

This condition can last for several weeks, as the gums need time to completely renew themselves. In some patients the sensitivity of the tooth to chewing continues. This discomfort can still exist after half a year. A regular presentation to the treating dentist during the post-treatment is especially important to understand the success or failure of the therapy.

Pulsating pain

Pain after apicoectomy is normal, as the body’s immune response causes wound pain. However, some patients complain of pulsating pain in the affected tooth, even though it is dead. How can this be?

The pulsating pain may have a neurological cause. Direct nerve cords run below the root tip in the treatment area, which may have been irritated during the apicoectomy. However, this sensation should subside after a few days.

Furthermore, the pulsating pain can also be similar to phantom pain, which radiates into the affected region. There are also patients who feel pulsating pain in a region where a tooth has been removed. If these complaints do not subside, it is also advisable to consult a neurologist in consultation with the dentist.