A root canal can cause a lot of anxiety for patients. Root canals indeed have an unpleasant reputation, but you’ll find out that root canals are usually less painful than expected. Dental and facial pain are commonly relieved by root canals.

How Painful Is a Root Canal?
When pulp tissue is infected or inflamed, it can lead to severe toothaches. Endodontic treatment can alleviate that pain. The use of local anesthetic and modern endodontic techniques makes many root canals as painless as cavity fillings. People usually feel pressure and movement during their medical procedure, but no pain is reported.

Anesthetic is used for numbing the affected tooth and its surrounding tissue during endodontic treatment. To remove the pulp, the tooth is then opened so the doctor can access it. A rubber-like material is then injected into the tooth chamber and roots to seal them and prevent infection. A dental filling or a crown is used to restore the treated tooth

Root canal pain after a procedure
You might experience some sensitivity and tenderness in a few hours after your root canal treatment as the local anesthetic wears off. In particular, if you experienced pain or infection before your root canal treatment, this is especially true. Analgesics can be used to manage this sensitivity, which is typically slight and can be treated over-the-counter. You should limit your food intake and avoid eating with the treated tooth until the discomfort has passed, but other activities can be continued as normal. 

Your dentist should be consulted for pain beyond a root canal. Besides taking medication temporarily, there are other ways to manage root canal pain. Until your tooth pain improves, you should avoid eating hard or crunchy foods. Book an appointment with your doctor if pain persists beyond this time.

Schedule your appointment with a dentist today and get the treatment on time!