Is a Root Canal Painful?

If you’ve been told you need a root canal the word itself can sound worse than the treatment. Most people worry about the pain before they worry about anything. Fair enough.

What Does a Root Canal Feel Like?

The strange part is that the tooth may already hurt more than the treatment does. A infected tooth can throb when you lie down or react sharply to hot and cold drinks. Once the area is properly numb that constant pain is usually replaced by a feeling of pressure.

Yes you may still notice things happening. You could feel movement. Hear the dental instruments. You just shouldn’t feel the dentist drilling into the tooth.

The Anaesthetic Makes a Big Difference

Before treatment starts your dentist numbs the area with anaesthetic. You’ll usually know its working because your lip, cheek or tongue starts feeling heavy or tingly.

If you feel pain during the procedure say so. There is no prize for staying quiet. Your dentist can give you anaesthetic and wait until you’re properly numb before continuing.

Is a Root Canal Painful Afterwards?

Some soreness after a root canal is normal. The tooth and nearby tissues have just been worked on so biting down can feel uncomfortable for a days. It tends to feel like tenderness than the deep toothache that caused you to need treatment in the first place.

What Makes Some Root Canals More Uncomfortable?

Not every root canal feels the same. An infection that has caused a lot of inflammation can make getting the tooth completely numb more difficult. A tooth that has been badly damaged may also need attention before treatment settles down.

• A inflamed tooth can be harder to numb so tell your dentist if you still feel sharp pain.

• Pressure during treatment is common. Actual pain isn’t something you need to tolerate

• After treatment biting tenderness is fairly normal during the first few days.

• If swelling appears or severe pain keeps getting worse that’s different. Call your dentist than waiting it out.

What If You’re Already in Severe Pain?

This is where people sometimes get surprised. A root canal is often done because the tooth is already causing pain not because the treatment itself is expected to create it.

Once the infected tissue inside the tooth is. The tooth is cleaned and sealed, the source of that pain is dealt with. It can feel like a relief.

So Should You Be Worried About the Pain?

Honestly I’d be more concerned about leaving an infected tooth untreated than about the root canal itself. Modern dental anaesthetic makes the procedure much easier than its reputation suggests.

You may feel pressure. You may have some soreness afterwards. But sitting in the dental chair thinking “This is going to be unbearable ” is usually worse than what happens.