Is Root Canal Treatment Painful? What to Actually Expect

Root canal treatment has an old reputation for being painful, and it puts people off seeking help for a tooth that is already hurting. In practice, most of the pain patients associate with a root canal comes from the infection before treatment, not from the procedure itself.

The tooth is numbed with local anaesthesia before work begins, and the aim is that you should feel pressure and movement but not pain. If a tooth is severely inflamed, more anaesthetic or a slightly different technique may be needed — tell your dentist if you feel anything sharp rather than waiting it out.

During treatment the inflamed or infected tissue inside the tooth is removed, the canals are cleaned and shaped, and the space is sealed. This relieves the pressure that was causing the ache in the first place.

For a day or two afterwards, the tooth can feel tender to bite on, and the jaw may ache from being open. This usually settles and is generally manageable with the pain relief your dentist recommends. Severe or increasing pain, swelling or fever should be reported to the clinic rather than waited out.

A treated tooth is more brittle than a healthy one, so a crown is often advised on back teeth to protect it from fracture. Leaving a root-treated molar unrestored is a common reason such teeth are eventually lost.

Delay is what usually makes treatment harder. An infection that spreads into the surrounding bone can mean more visits, and in some cases the tooth can no longer be saved.

Root canal treatment is available at both the Guntur and Narasaraopet clinics of Swasthya Advanced Dental Care & Implant Centre. If a tooth is aching, book an appointment for an examination rather than waiting for the pain to pass.