Root canals are a procedure for saving decayed or severely infected teeth. This procedure is needed when the infection, which may have been a ‘mere toothache’ in the beginning, forms an abscess which expands throughout the tooth’s root. Done by an endodontist or a dentist, root canal therapy eliminates the infection from the insides of the tooth, and removes the pulp and nerve present inside the root canal, saving the natural tooth.
Some people are intimidated by the thought of getting a root canal. This is often because of misconceptions and myths about having one done. In this blog post, we’re going to give an overview of what having root canal therapy involves and answer one of the most frequently asked questions about having one done:
Will My Root Canal Be Painful?
You’ll often hear root canals being depicted as a very painful experience but, you’ll be relieved to hear, this isn’t true. Advancements in anesthetics and technology in dentistry have made root canal therapy essentially pain-free and hassle-free. Now patients can look forward to less discomfort and shorter recovery times than they would have had years ago.
So, What to Expect With a Root Canal?
Root canal therapy may not be scary if you learn what it involves. The dentist or endodontist will numb the area around your tooth so that you will not feel any pain. Though there can be some rare situations where anesthetic may not be entirely effective due to issues such as abscesses, your dentist will most likely prescribe the patient an antibiotic 7 to 10 days ahead of time in order to prevent them from happening.
After the procedure is completed and all bacteria and infection are cleared out of the interior of the tooth, your dentist will remove the nerve, a soothing agent will be applied, and the tooth will be closed up with a temporary filling until it is ready for a crown. Any discomfort the patient feels after the procedure should go away in twenty-four hours as whatever might be left of the infection is taken care of by the immune system. There might still be some tenderness in the area for a few days afterward.
What If There’s Pain?
You can experience some discomfort or pain when your gum tissue is inflamed. Your dentist or endodontist may have eliminated the nerve of the tooth, but the nerves in the areas surrounding it are still there, and the swollen tissue can still cause some discomfort.
No matter the case, keep in mind that it’s not typical to experience more than a few days of major pain. If this sounds like your situation, you should visit your dentist as soon as you can.
Have a tooth or pain that is bothering you? Contact us now to schedule an appointment with us to have it checked by Dr. Aerni.