Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?

Root canal treatment, also known as endodontics, is a dental treatment that removes infected pulp from a tooth. It is a fairly common procedure that lots of people need, but one that you may be concerned about having due to its reputation as being something painful.

In actual fact, most people who have had root canal treatment experience very little discomfort. It is a field of dental work that has advanced a lot in recent years, and good endodontists are able to remove diseased dental pulp without their patients suffering.

What to Expect from Root Canal Treatment

When you go in for your root canal treatment, the first thing that will happen is a local anesthetic injection to your gum. This will numb the affected area so that the procedure can be performed without you experiencing any pain. The endodontist will check that the local anesthetic has taken effect before starting work on your tooth.

Your tooth may be isolated using a dental dam, which is just to make it easier for the endodontist and keep the tooth they are working on clean and dry. They will then use dental tools to remove the pulp and the bacteria that have built up in the tooth. This may sound a bit scary, involving drills and scraping, however you won’t feel anything.

Is Recovery Painful?

Your gum may be a little bit sore after root canal treatment, and your tooth may also feel a little different from how it did before. However, there shouldn’t be any significant pain, and any soreness will pass in a couple of days – the mouth heals very fast. Any discomfort you do experience is also likely to be a lot less painful than the toothache that indicates the need for root canal treatment, so people who are recommended to have a root canal because they had pain in the tooth generally feel more relief than anything. Even if your pulp problem was spotted before pain developed, you’ll avoid pain and the potential for an abscess – which can be extremely dangerous and cause even more intense pain.

If you are in need of a root canal and want to ensure you have the most comfortable experience possible, make an appointment with New York’s best endodontist today! You will not regret the decision to remove problem tooth pulp tissue and experience better oral health.