Root Canals — Do They Hurt?

Root canal is a pretty common procedure that helps eliminate discomfort. To do so, your endodontist removes a damaged or infected tooth pulp and cleans your canals to disinfect it. But do root canals hurt? You might be wondering if your dentist recommends root canal therapy for you. We’ll take you on a detailed explanation of what happens in a root canal procedure. This way, you can learn what happens during root canal therapy and if it hurts or not.

Root Canal Symptoms

Let’s discuss what signs show up when you need a root canal. There are certain indicators that will help your endodontist know that you require this treatment.

The root symptoms look like this:

• Constant pain, especially when chewing or biting down
• Increased sensitivity to heat and cold
• Discoloration of tooth
• Swelling in gums
• Pain upon touching the tooth
• Chips or cracks in the affected tooth
• Tooth feels loose

What Happens During Root Canal Procedure?

A specialized dentist or endodontist performs the root canal procedure. It will depend on your tooth’s condition and how long the procedure takes. Hence, it’s possible that your treatment requires more than one visit if the case is complex.

Your dentist will recommend a root canal after taking dental x-rays. This will help them identify the presence of an infection. After that, they’ll discuss what the procedure involves and discuss the important details so you can make an informed decision.

When the root canal procedure starts, you’ll probably wonder if it will hurt. The answer is: no; the root canal procedure itself will not be harmful. You can confirm this by knowing what goes on in root canal therapy. Before the procedure, your dentist will inject a local anesthetic, which helps numb the pain. Therefore, when the endodontist is working on your affected tooth, you might not even feel a twinge. After that, the dentist removes the infected tissue and cleans the site. Then, they’ll insert a synthetic material to replace the tissue after disinfecting the tooth. Lastly, they might seal your tooth using a large filling. In some cases, the dentist will place a crown to cover the weakened tooth.

Is Root Canal Painful?

No, the root canal treatment is not painful since it is performed under anesthesia. The pain before the procedure comes from the infection. During the treatment, the dental specialist gets rid of the infection after numbing the area. So, the procedure itself should not hurt. Thus, you should inform your endodontist if you start feeling discomfort.

Following the treatment, you might feel slight discomfort. However, you can consult your dentist if you feel pain after a root canal. They’ll recommend medications. Sometimes, pain can occur due to other factors; your dentist can help eliminate them.

What Should I Do?

Are you wondering if the root canals hurt? The dental specialist or endodontist will put you under local anesthesia to ensure the affected site is numb. Thus, you will not feel pain when the procedure is performed. You can immediately inform the dentist if you feel any discomfort during the treatment so they can look at it. Furthermore, you might feel slight discomfort after the procedure. But, no worries, your dentist can recommend the best medications to alleviate the discomfort.

Our Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry team is always here to help you get rid of the discomfort. Schedule an appointment with us at (281) 937-7530. You can also visit our dental clinic; just drop by 19875 Southwest Fwy #120, Sugar Land, TX 77479.