Is root canal treatment painful?

If you need root canal treatment, you may feel nervous about what the procedure involves.

Does it cause discomfort? How long will it take to recover? In this guide, we offer an overview of root canal surgery and some tips to help you afterwards.

Dentists commonly carry out root canal treatment in situations where a patient has an infected tooth. Such a scenario can occur when the soft ‘pulp’ within a tooth becomes infected due to decay, gum disease, chipping or breakage, or a dental abscess, which is when pus builds up in teeth or gums. If you experience any of this, it is vital you have root canal treatment, or the affected tooth or teeth might need to be extracted completely.

The purpose of surgery is to clean the tooth, fill the affected area and prevent it getting reinfected. Surgery might involve successive appointments lasting one to two hours.

How painful is it?

Dentists performing root canal operations will usually administer a local anaesthetic, meaning you will remain awake but still experience numbing. You might feel a sensation of pressure or vibration, but usually not pain. Surgery involves drilling, cleaning and the application of a filling. In the event of an abscess, that will also need to be drained. If the tooth was badly infected, a crown may be installed.

Due to lingering numbness, you may feel nothing in your jaw or face for a few hours after surgery, until the local anaesthetic wears off. While the impacted area may initially feel some swelling or soreness, this sensitivity should clear within a week or two.

For pain relief, dentists advise patients to take over the counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol in the event of lingering discomfort.

It is important to resume your regular teeth cleaning routine and set up follow-up and regular check-ups to make sure your teeth remain healthy. You should also take extra care to avoid knocking or bumping your mouth, while avoiding chewing in that part of the mouth until it has returned to normal.

If you require root canal treatment in Chester, call our advanced care team at Art of Dental Care today to set up a consultation.