Gone are the days when root canals used to be painful. Even today, many people assume that the procedure is painful. So, is a root canal painful? The simple answer is, no. Root canals are painless because dentists use local anesthesia to make the tooth numb and the surrounding areas.
However, mild discomfort and pain might exist during the procedure. Root canals aren’t painful and you shouldn’t avoid them because of fear of pain. People who need a root canal procedure are already in pain and this procedure helps alleviate discomfort. Teeth that are fixed with a root canal can last for a lifetime.
What is involved in the root canal?
In general, a root canal refers to the internal cavity of your teeth. However, in terms of dental procedures, a root canal involves cleaning the internal cavity of your tooth when it gets infected with bacteria. Every year, millions of teeth are saved because of root canal procedures.
To start the procedure of root canal, your endodontist or dentist takes an X-Ray to find out whether the procedure can be carried away with ease. The main concern is to look out for any signs of infection that have spread to the nearby areas other than the teeth and gums.
When everything looks fine, your endodontist or dentist goes ahead with the root canal procedure. At first, they will isolate the tooth by placing a thin rubber sheet around it, which is called a rubber dam. After that, a drill is used on top of the diseased tooth to access the inner pulp.
This is the area that contains bacteria including the sensitive nerves of the decayed tooth. The dentist then removes it along with the debris. It is very important to clean the tooth properly. If the cleaning process of your tooth isn’t carried away thoroughly from the inside, you may need another root canal treatment.
Endodontists and dentists use specialized tools called files to clean the root canal. Because the whole procedure involves the use of local anesthesia, you can’t experience pain. But, you may feel a little bit of pressure during the process on your teeth.
How to cope up with root canal pain:
As you know, there is no pain involved in the root canal procedure. But, you may feel a slight discomfort even after the procedure is over. And, it may remain that way for a few days. Because the nerves of the treated tooth are sensitive, a slight pain is normal.
- Pain during the procedure – While you don’t feel pain during a root canal treatment, even if your dentist doesn’t use anesthesia. Local anesthesia eliminates the chances of experiencing pain, regardless of how slight it is. Despite this, if you feel any kind of pain during the process, let your dentist know.
- Pain after the procedure – It is normal to experience a bit of pain even after completing the root canal procedure. However, the situation is temporary and you can deal with it by using medications as recommended by your dentist. Also, you can ask about certain pain killers to avoid pain after a root canal procedure.
Moreover, you can try some home remedies that are effective for dental pain. If everything fails, you may ask your dentists for strong pain killers. It is unwise to eat food after the procedure and don’t use the treated tooth for chewing food for a few days.
What to do if the pain persists?
If you are experiencing pain on the treated tooth for a few days even after the root canal procedure is completed, it is not required to visit your dentist. The medications and pain killers are enough to take care of the job. And, it will cope with the pain until there is none.
But, if the pain remains the same for more than two weeks, you should visit your dentist. In general, if the root canal isn’t cleaned properly, the pain could last for a long time. In that scenario, your dentist has to examine the tooth again.
Moreover, the pain could be from the damage caused by the equipment while performing the root canal treatment. Therefore, to avoid such kind of unfortunate events, it is wise to visit an experienced endodontist or dentist for your tooth treatment. An expert dentist conducts swift and painless root canal procedures.
Why is it necessary for a root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment helps to clean the infected pulp and roots and prevents further dental issues. But, why is it a better option compared to removing your tooth completely? Performing a root canal treatment is far better than removing your tooth in the first place.
Extracting the tooth involves more trauma compared to the root canal treatment. Moreover, doing so can increase the chances of getting the bacteria mixed in your bloodstream. Apart from that, it is always best to preserve your natural tooth and deal with certain issues relating to jawbone strength, biting, or chewing.
In terms of both time and cost-effectiveness, root canal treatment is better than extracting a tooth. With this procedure, you can save a lot of money and limit your visit to the dentist while keeping the natural tooth in its place. You feel more pleasant than you have expected.
What are the benefits of a root canal treatment?
If you are experiencing pain from an infected tooth, root canal treatment benefits you in the following ways.
- It stops bacterial infection in the surrounding areas. After the bacteria is removed, the tooth is cleaned and disinfected. There is no scope for the bacteria to spread
- It provides a beautiful appearance to your teeth. In short, it restores the aesthetic and functionality of your tooth
- The treatment saves your teeth. That way, you don’t have to worry about losing your tooth and having a gap between them. It functions like other teeth
- Root canal treatment improves oral and your overall health. When you suffer from a decayed tooth, it causes a serious threat to your well-being. When the infected tooth is healed, it helps to improve your oral health and further boosts your overall health as well