Q. Hi I have been diagnosed with a cracked LL7 tooth, and have had a crown put on to stabilise it. We can’t tell if the crack has affected the root or pulp. 4 weeks on after the crown was fitted, I am still suffering grinding, aggressive pain all day in the tooth (though I can get some sleep at night). It’s more acute with hot and cold and sweet foods. I can just about use the tooth, but not to eat anything hard or crunchy, as this is uncomfortable too (though the crown has helped to make it less painful). I am taking painkillers every few hours and am not coping with being in pain all day. My dentist says it can take a few months for nerve pain to diminish after it’s been stirred up, but I can’t stand this kind of pain for much longer. It’s interfering with my quality of life. Would it be best to ask for a root canal to be performed on this tooth so that the pain situation is resolved? Presumably if this is done the tooth cannot hurt anymore? Does having root canal cause any longterm problems for a tooth?