Tooth pain or swelling: when to get help
Call +91 95410 93573 for the earliest available dental assessment. We are open Monday–Sunday, 10am–8pm; urgent slots depend on availability. An assessment may lead to pain relief or temporary treatment before the full RCT is completed.
Difficulty breathing or swallowing, or swelling affecting the eye or neck, needs immediate hospital emergency care. See urgent tooth pain advice.
Signs you may need a root canal
- toothache that throbs, comes on by itself or wakes you at night
- pain from hot or cold that lingers for more than a few seconds after the food is gone
- pain when you bite or press on the tooth
- a gum boil or pimple near the tooth, or a bad taste
- swelling of the gum or face
- a tooth that has gone darker after an injury
Symptoms alone do not establish the need for RCT. Sensitivity, cracks and gum problems can have other causes, and some infected teeth cause no pain. An examination, tooth tests and X-rays help identify the cause. See signs that need a dental assessment.
Single-sitting RCT or several visits?
A single visit may suit a straightforward tooth. Narrow or curved canals, re-treatment and difficulty controlling infection can require more appointments. Completing the canals in one visit does not necessarily mean the final filling or crown is fitted that day. The number of visits is planned around cleaning, sealing and restoring the tooth.
Root canal treatment steps
- Diagnosis. We examine the tooth, test the nerve and take an X-ray to see the roots and any infection. We’ll also check the tooth is worth saving: enough tooth left to restore, and healthy gum and bone around it.
- Numbing. Local anaesthetic. A rubber sheet (dental dam) isolates the tooth so it stays dry and clean and nothing falls into your mouth.
- Cleaning the canals. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth. The nerve tissue is removed, and the canals are measured, shaped and washed with disinfectant.
- Sealing. The clean canals are filled with a rubber-like material (gutta-percha) and sealed. If the tooth needs a second visit, medicine is placed inside and a temporary filling closes it.
- Rebuilding. The tooth needs a permanent seal and restoration. Depending on the remaining tooth and chewing load, this can be a filling, onlay or crown. The dentist explains when it should be fitted.
Who does your root canal
Dr. Adish Chaudhary provides root canal care and plans the restoration afterwards. His MDS qualification is in Prosthodontics, Crown & Bridge. An endodontist is a specialist in root canal treatment; this is a different qualification. If a tooth needs specialist assessment, discuss that need and the treating clinician before proceeding.
Repeat root canal treatment (re-RCT)
A previously treated tooth can become painful or infected again. Leakage around a restoration, untreated canal anatomy or a crack may be involved. The previous treatment and the amount of remaining tooth must be assessed before deciding whether repeat treatment is appropriate.
Re-treatment involves reopening the tooth and removing the old canal filling so the canals can be cleaned and sealed again. It may require additional visits. Some teeth need root-tip surgery or extraction instead; a repeat procedure cannot guarantee that the tooth will heal. Bring previous X-rays and treatment records if available.
Pain after RCT and aftercare
- Avoid chewing on the tooth until the numbness has gone, and until the final filling or crown is fitted.
- Tenderness on biting for a few days is normal. Take an over-the-counter painkiller you know is safe for you, following the pack.
- A temporary filling can wear down slightly; if it falls out, call us.
- Come back for the crown on time. A root-treated back tooth without a crown is at real risk of cracking.
Risks and limitations
- Not every tooth can be saved. A tooth with a vertical crack, too little structure left or severe gum disease may be better removed.
- Flare-up. Occasionally, pain and swelling increase a day or two after cleaning. It’s treatable, so call us.
- Re-infection. A small proportion of root canals fail, sometimes years later. Most can be re-treated.
- Instrument separation or perforation can complicate treatment. Difficult canals and previous complications may need specialist assessment.
Root canal or extraction?
If you’d rather not keep the tooth, the alternative is extraction, ideally followed by a replacement such as an implant or bridge.
Root canal appointments at Eros City Square
Find us at Shop 185, first floor, Eros City Square Mall, above McDonald’s, Sector 49, Gurugram (Gurgaon). See directions to the clinic before travelling from South City 2, Nirvana Country or nearby sectors. Call to confirm an appointment before travelling.
For specific questions, read whether you need a crown after RCT, compare root canal and extraction, or arrange an assessment.
Questions patients ask us
Is root canal treatment painful?
The treatment itself shouldn't hurt, because the tooth is fully numbed. The pain people associate with root canals is usually the toothache before it. Very inflamed teeth, often lower molars, can be harder to numb, and we take extra time and extra anaesthetic until you're comfortable.
Can I have single-sitting root canal treatment?
Some teeth can be cleaned and sealed in one visit. Others need staged treatment because of canal complexity, infection or previous treatment. The root filling and the final crown may be separate appointments. Confirm the likely visits after assessment.
How long does pain last after a root canal?
Tenderness when you bite, for two to five days, is common and settles with ordinary painkillers. Pain that gets worse after a few days, swelling, or pain that lasts beyond a week or two should be checked.
Is a cap (crown) necessary after root canal treatment?
For molars and premolars, usually yes. A root-treated back tooth is weakened by the decay and the access opening, and chewing forces can split it. A crown holds it together. Front teeth with little damage can sometimes be restored with a filling alone.
What are the signs of root canal failure?
Pain on biting that returns months or years later, a gum boil (a small pimple near the tooth), swelling, or a dark area at the root tip on an X-ray. It can often be fixed with re-treatment by an endodontist, or occasionally with minor surgery at the root tip.
Root canal or extraction, which is better?
If the tooth can be restored and the gums and bone around it are healthy, keeping it with a root canal is usually the better long-term choice. Extraction is quicker but leaves a gap that most people then need to fill with an implant, bridge or denture. We'll tell you honestly if a tooth isn't worth saving.
What can I eat after root canal treatment?
Wait until the numbness wears off. Then eat soft food on the other side until the permanent filling or crown is fitted, because the tooth is fragile until then.
Does pain after an old root canal mean the tooth must be removed?
Not necessarily. The tooth, previous root filling, restoration and surrounding tissues need checking. Repeat root canal treatment, root-tip surgery or extraction may be considered, depending on whether the tooth can be restored.
Where is the clinic and is it open on Sunday?
Petal Smiles is at Shop 185, first floor, Eros City Square Mall, above McDonald’s, Sector 49, Gurugram (Gurgaon). The clinic is open Monday–Sunday, 10am–8pm. Call +91 95410 93573 to confirm an appointment before travelling.
Is root canal treatment safe for children?
Children's milk teeth can have a simpler nerve treatment (pulpotomy or pulpectomy) to keep them until they fall out naturally. See root canal treatment for milk teeth.
Sources
American Association of Endodontists: endodontic retreatment ↗NHS: dental abscess ↗NHS: root canal treatment ↗Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS: root canal benefits, alternatives and risks ↗ADA MouthHealthy: root canals ↗Last updated 24 October 2026. This page explains options in general terms; your own plan comes from an examination.