How painful is a root canal?

Do root canals really hurt, well no. Not really. It may sound like a trick your dentist is trying to play on you, but root canals actually relieve the pain!  Here is an interesting fact - Did you know that root canals restore and save an average of 17 million teeth each year?

Root canal therapy is actually a relatively painless procedure that affords you the opportunity to keep your natural tooth.  And that’s not just another dental myth.

Although many of us immediately panic when we hear the term, most fears about root canals are completely irrational or based on archaic root canal rumors from the Russian Gulags.

With today’s advancements in techniques, modern technology, & patient comfort, root canals can be as painless as a teeth cleaning.

What Is A Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure to remove the infected tooth pulp when it gets infected due to a cavity or trauma.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, a root canal is a procedure done to save the damaged or dead pulp in the root canal of the tooth by cleaning out the diseased pulp and reshaping the canal.

For those of us that have experienced tooth issues that are beyond the normal drill & fill, a root canal can save your natural teeth and prevent the need for total tooth replacement options like dental implants, dentures, or dental bridges.

When Do You Need a Root Canal?

Pulp isn’t just something in our orange juice, tooth pulp is the substance in the center of our teeth. This tooth pulp is actually a collection of blood vessels which aid in building the surrounding tooth substance.

It’s the infection of this tooth pulp that requires a root canal (endodontic treatment); infection caused by either trauma, decay, cracked or chipped teeth, or even older root canals that may have failed.

Symptoms of the infection can include:
–  injury to the tooth caused by trauma
–  swelling of the gums around the infected tooth
–  sensitivity to temperature
–  pain in the tooth and gums

Are Root Canals Painful?

Not getting a root canal – or any necessary dental treatment – is painful, both in the infected tooth and in the wallet.

By not having root canal therapy done when it’s needed, will only cause further decay & deeper infection requiring more treatment, at an increased cost.

So once again, root canals are not painful…root canals relieve the pain!  For more information about root canals, call our endodontist for a consultation.