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Can Root Canal Treatment be Painful?

What is the best method to restore a severely damaged tooth and get relief from the pain? In most cases, root canal therapy is considered the best method. A root canal treatment is considered to be one of the most effective solutions by most dentists in Edmonton. Root canal therapy is done because:

  1. It prevents dental problems and infections before they reach the core of the tooth (root canals) and the underlying pulp.
  2. It relieves pain due to damages that have already affected the pulp of the tooth.
  3. It prevents further damage to your tooth which can be a reason for extraction.

But people generally have numerous myths about the root canal therapy, and painful root canal procedure is one of them.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about getting a root canal treatment? Dreadful days with constant pain around the area you got treated? This perception of pain is often a reason why people fear getting root canal treatment. The truth is the pain is caused by an infection in the tooth, and not because of root canal treatment. A root canal is done to eliminate that pain. You may experience the pain before the root canal therapy. But do you know what is the reason behind this intense pain you feel?

Reason for the Pain

When your tooth gets damaged or starts decaying close to the pulp, or if a tooth is injured in some other way, the pulp in the root canal can get affected and may even die. The root canal is left with dead tissue on which bacteria can feed. This leads to infection formation in the core of your tooth. You may wonder why does it pain if the pulp is dead. The pain occurs because the root canal is a closed system. This means that as the infection grows, the limited space makes the pressure build-up and it is this increase in pressure that causes pain.

Is Root Canal Therapy Painful?

The perception of pain during the therapy isn’t completely true. Some people experience mild irritation and pain, while there have been cases where individuals don’t feel any pain at all. In most cases, the root canal treatment is painless. Sedation dentistry, with the use of anaesthesia, makes root canal treatment painless. This way, you don’t feel almost anything when your dentist drills the dental structure, extracts the dead tissues or numbs the nerve ends during the root canal therapy. If you experience an acute infection and throbbing pain, the dentist may place a painkilling cream inside the tooth before the root canal therapy appointment. The cream will start to settle the infection so that the anaesthetic will help on the day of the appointment.

Some people experience teeth sensitivity and pain after the root canal treatment. This pain can be eased with the help of over-the-counter painkillers and home remedies such as clove oil and an ice pack.

Now that you know that root canal isn’t a painful treatment, you can opt for it and get rid of your dental infection and pain. You can book your appointment with our dentist in Edmonton and discuss your root canal treatment.