When you hear the words root canal treatment, Is it painful? might be the first thing that comes to mind. If so, you’re not alone. Root canal treatments certainly have a reputation.
Teeth can become decayed, damaged, or infected, requiring a thorough internal cleaning of the tooth to remove the damaged or infected nerve tissues called the pulp. A filling compound follows the procedure to inhibit future infection and strengthen the tooth. This procedure is known as a root canal treatment.
Dana Street Dental has all the information you need, from the procedure itself to recovery. Root canal treatments are simple, and our caring staff will ensure your experience is pain-free. Visit our Facebook page to see our staff in action or book your next appointment.
What Is a Root Canal Treatment?
If your tooth is decayed, the bacteria within the decayed areas could travel towards the tooth’s root and nerve tissues. If this is ignored or not treated, it can lead to infection of the nerve tissue, giving rise to pain and sometimes swelling of the facial tissues. This infection could spread into your gums and even your jawbone if left long enough. In the worst cases, this infection can travel through the bloodstream, lead to sepsis, and potentially cause a stroke or cardiac arrest.
A root canal treatment cleans and disinfects the entire inside of a tooth and its root system, removing all the decayed and infected material. Afterwards, it is recommended that this tooth receive a crown,which places a protective shield over the entire tooth.
Root canal treatment may be recommended if you have one or more of these symptoms:
- Severe toothache that doesn’t go away
- Increased pain or general discomfort if you chew or put any pressure on a tooth
- Heightened sensitivity when eating or drinking, especially hot or cold foods or beverages
- Sharp, shooting pains that seem to arise for no reason
- The gums around the affected tooth are red, swollen, or bleeding
- An abscess forms in the gums around the tooth (with or without pus leakage)
Sometimes, you might not experience any symptoms. This is why regular dental checkups are essential. Your dentist monitors the changes in your teeth between appointments and can catch potential problems before they get out of control and require treatments such as root canals.
Root Canal Treatment Process
The root canal treatment process isn’t exactly the same from patient to patient, but the basic steps during the procedure are fairly standard. If you are worried about a root canal treatment being painful, then the details of the procedure process given below can help you understand and hopefully ease your worries!
- Your dentist numbs the affected area to minimize potential discomfort (almost all root canal treatments are entirely painless).
- A rubber sheet called a dental dam is then placed over the tooth. A dental dam isolates the affected tooth and ensures no saliva or other debris can enter the tooth.
- If your tooth is damaged or decayed, the dentist carefully removes the damaged tissues, called dental pulp.
- Then the dentist thoroughly cleans the dental pulp space as well as the roots. There will be lots of rinsing with an antibacterial oral solution.
- Medication is applied to the treated tooth to prevent further infection.
- Your tooth is filled with a compound that’s typically the same color as your natural teeth.
- Your dentist may place a crown or cap over the top, recreating the structure of your tooth to strengthen it and prevent the risk of infection or further damage.
For the 24 hours directly following your root canal treatment, you may experience some tenderness or swelling. This is a normal part of the treatment..
Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?
You’ve probably heard that root canal procedures are painful. Years ago, root canals were different, but today the experience is similar to getting a filling. Your dentist ensures the area is completely numb, and pain afterward is unlikely since the nerve is removed.
If your teeth are particularly sensitive or you suffer from anxiety, your dentist can even perform this procedure while you sleep with sedation dentistry.
How Do You Know If You Need a Root Canal?
Your dentist may recommend a root canal if you have:
- Pain while chewing or biting
- A deep cavity, especially with pain
- A damaged tooth
- Infection
- Swollen or tender gums
If you have severe pain, you could have a dental emergency. Contact your dentist as soon as possible.
How Long Is Root Canal Treatment Recovery?
The area around your tooth may be sensitive for 24 to 48 hours after your treatment, but the pain from the decayed or damaged tooth will be gone.
If your healing is uncomfortable, your dentist may recommend Paracetamol or Nurofen to ease pain and swelling.
Final Thoughts
Tooth pain is the worst. Having an infected tooth isn’t fun, and it can affect every aspect of your life until you get treatment. Dana Street Dental has all the information you need from the procedure itself to recovery.
Root canal treatments aren’t complicated and, best of all, our caring staff ensures your experience is pain free.
