I had a root canal started in November, 08. The tooth was severely infected so the dentist put me on antiobiotics. I went back following the completion of antiobiotics only to find it was still infected. He switched me to a different antibiotic and once again, I went back following completion of the meds. He did what he could be still found that one of the canals was infected. Long story short, after 2 months and 4 rounds of antibiotics I had my root canal completed on Jan 8, 09. The x-rays following the root canal looked good (according to Dentist) and since he said there was till just a hint of infection, he put me on another round of antibiotics. No sooner did the numbness wear off following the appointment, I was in excruciating pain (a 12 on a scale of 1 to 10). I called the dentist and he told me to ice it and continue my meds. The pain meds he gave me did not even make a dent in the pain I was feeling. It has now been 6 days and I am still in pain. It seems as though it starts to get better but then just gets worse. It's not like normal tooth pain. It doesn't hurt to tap my teeth together (it was in a rear molar) since he did an inclusion. I don't chew on it yet but when he had me push on it with my finger today (after calling him about continuous pain) it was still sensitive. What is worse is that since the numbness wore off, I have had pain radiating from my ear to part of my lip on that same side. The skin on my face (just the side I had worked on) feels like the nerve endings are exposed and hurt like a SOB. It hurts for water to touch it in the shower. The pain in my ear is like someone pouring hot fluid in my ear and the pain in my lip is like someone is poking it with something sharp. My jaw bone hurts as though it's severely bruised. The dentist said he doesn't see how these pains are related, especially since the root canal lookes successful. He put me on another antibiotic (which I will start today). Because of all the pain, the muscles in my neck tighten up and cause me to have really bad headaches. The only thing that seems to help at all is holding an ice bag to my face. I'm just so sick of being in pain. I finally had to take a day off work today (I am a nanny and can't be taking pain meds while looking after the kids) because the pain is just getting to me. Any suggestions?

Your story sounds like mine. Back and forth to the dentist, more and more antibiotics and all the symptoms the same.
My endodontist put me on a medication to relax the muscles in my face. Along with an antibiotic. Two rounds of both. Did your dentist mention that you possibly are grinding your teeth and suggest a mouth guard at night. This will help also.

Although I have been going through a similar ordeal since October my pain is almost gone now. I can't chew on the tooth at all unfortunately, and my regular dentist won't refill the tooth and prepare it for a crown till my pain is gone. I was/am considering pulling it.

To sum it up, perhaps you could suggest to your dentist if he/she would consider the medication to relax your face. It's a form of a steriod and he/she will know what it is. I can't think of the name right now. My face was KILLING me... and the tooth... all after the root canal... your tooth may need time to settle down. Good luck.

That's what happened to me and the pain wasn't coming fron the infected tooth.As it turns out I have trimenginal neuralgia.I ended up having brain surgery to ease the pain.If it doesn't go away I suggest you go to a neurologist to inquire about this.

Bad job done.. the tooth was so bad it was probably better to pull it out. Infection may ran to your face causing intense pain each time.. I had my pulled out after so much pain for 4 yrs and it was a bAD ROOT CANAL ALL THIS TIME.