Are Root Canals Painful?

Oral pain is one of the most paralyzing issues that you can experience. It can come on suddenly and gets worse the longer you go without fixing the issue. Once you see your dentist, they can quickly identify and treat the problem area. Root canals are common treatments dentist perform to relieve tooth pain and save the natural tooth. If your dentists suggests this procedure, you may wonder what to expect and if root canals are painful.

Why You Need a Root Canal

Root canals are often the prescribed treatment when the inside of the tooth becomes inflamed or infected. This can happen because of deep tooth decay, cracks or chips in the tooth, genetic predisposition or a faulty crown. Symptoms of a necessary root canal may include:

• Severe pain when biting or chewing
• Sensitivity to hot or cold after the sensation is no longer present
• Pain in a chipped or cracked tooth
• Swollen gums
• Darkening of the gums
• Deep decay on the tooth

The Root Canal Process

Root canal procedures have been around for decades. Thankfully, as dental science has progressed, dentists have access to better procedures and tools to make the procedure as painless as possible. The dentist will begin by numbing the area with anesthesia. The dentist then removes the inflamed pulp from inside the tooth. Fully developed teeth do not need this pulp since the tooth can be nourished by the surrounding tissues. Once the pulp is removed, the dentist cleans and fills the inner canal of the tooth. This prevents future infections. Through modern medicine and procedures, the whole process can be done in a single appointment and is relatively pain-free. Many note the pain is no worse than a filling or other common dental procedure. As the anesthesia wears off, however, some report a sorer mouth area after a root canal.

Root canals are considered tooth-saving procedures. If a root canal is needed and treatment is not performed, the likelihood of needing a tooth extraction rises. For this reason, tooth pain should be addressed quickly in hopes of catching the issue quickly enough to save the tooth.

Preventing a Root Canal

Oftentimes root canals can be prevented with good oral health. By brushing and flossing everyday and regularly visiting your dentist, you can typically avoid the triggers that cause deep issues in the teeth. If you notice a chip or crack in your teeth, your dentist can provide preventative treatment to keep infections from forming. Taking a few preventative measures can go a long way to keep you from needing invasive dental procedures.

While root canals can have some pain during the healing process, most patients report that the pain from the procedure is much easier to deal with than the initial tooth pain that brought them into the dentist. If your dentist recommends a root canal, you should rest easy that the pain can be tolerated in order to save your tooth and provide relief from the initial pain. At Dental Remedies, our team of experts can provide care and treatment for all your dental needs. Contact us today to see if our team is a good fit for your family.