How Much Discomfort Is Expected After Root Canal Therapy?

Root canal therapy, also called endodontic treatment, removes bacteria from a tooth’s pulp. It is a standard dental procedure and is covered under general dentistry. 

In earlier days, a root canal treatment was quite painful, and its effect lasted many days, but with advancements in dentistry, the treatment is no longer as painful. 

The procedure is not so painful as the dentist would use local anesthesia, and the residual pain can be easily managed at home with over- the- counter medicines.

Endodontic treatment prevents pain from a fractured or decayed tooth. There could be mild to moderate discomfort for a few days after the treatment, but if the pain persists, you might need additional cleaning of the canal.

If you are scheduled to undergo root canal therapy and wondering how much pain and discomfort to expect, this article will provide all the information about this topic.

What is Root Canal Therapy?

If your tooth has an abscess or it has decayed, the endodontic treatment procedure can save your tooth.

• Your dentist would begin with giving you a local anesthesia to mange pain or discomfort during the root canal procedure.
• The process involves removing the inflamed pulp from the inside of your tooth.
• Your dentist would clean and disinfect the surface inside the tooth after removing the infection.
• Finally, the doctor would place a dental filling to seal the tooth and protect it from further decay.

How Long Is The Root Canal Therapy?

You might need more than one appointment to treat your tooth, based on the degree of infection

• On average, it would take anywhere between thirty to sixty minutes for the endodontic treatment.
• If your affected tooth is large and has multiple roots, it might take one and a half hours.

How Much Pain After The Treatment Is Normal?

Many of us associate root canal therapy with a lot of pain and discomfort, but you must know that excessive pain is not normal. 

• Due to modern technology along with anesthesia, this treatment is now very quick and mostly pain-free.
• You can expect slight pain and tenderness for a few days (up to three days) after the treatment. The pain is primarily due to the cleaning procedure where the dentist makes a tiny hole in the tooth’s crown to remove the diseased pulp.
• Though the dentist has removed the nerve root, there are some nerves in the tissue and ligaments around the impacted tooth. These are never-ending and can produce discomfort, and are inflamed after the therapy.

What Can Cause Severe Pain After Endodontic Treatment?

• Sometimes your tissue can get damaged due to the dental instrument used during the procedure. This could also register some pain.
• If the dentist does not smooth down the temporary filling properly, it could cause discomfort because your mouth would bite harder on the spot where the filling is uneven or higher.
• The treated tooth can get bacteria again due to incomplete treatment. In such cases, the doctor generally advises antibiotics.
• Our molars have many canals, which complicates the procedure, and your dentist might miss one. When this happens, the initial pain never subsides.
• If the damaged nerves inside the tooth are not removed completely, you will feel pain when your tooth comes in contact with extreme temperatures (both hot and cold).
• Sometimes bacteria could get accidentally injected into the surrounding tissues. For instance, the file being used inside the tooth pokes past the tip of the tooth’s root and hits the tissue underneath. In such situations, the pain will disappear once the tissue heals.

How To Manage Pain After Root Canal Therapy?

Apart from taking over-the-counter medicines, you must also make some lifestyle changes right after the treatment to avoid immense pain.

• You must avoid hard and crunchy foods till the pain resolves.
• If you smoke, it is best to quit smoking.
• You can perform stress-relieving activities such as yoga, meditation, and tai chi. These activities aid in taking your focus off the pain.
• Reduce sugary foods and drinks.

How To Know If My Root Canal Has Failed?

Fortunately, the majority of root canals are successful. In some cases where the treatment fails, you can experience any of the following symptoms:

• The pain persists beyond three days.
• Gums are swollen.
• There is pus or drainage.
• The tooth has discolorations.
• Gums have boils or pimples on them.
• You develop sinus problems.

Conclusion 

Endodontic treatments are an excellent way to save a decayed tooth. The treatment is no longer painful and the residual pain can last up to three days. But if you develop complications and experience any of the signs of root canal failure, you should immediately get in touch with your dentist.