Root canal therapy is a rescue treatment for severely infected or decayed teeth. This kind of treatment is necessary when a tooth infection goes past just being a toothache and creates an abscess which spreads throughout the root of the tooth. A root canal, performed by an endodontist or general dentist, cleanses the interior of the tooth, and removes the nerve and pulp present inside the root canal, allowing the preservation of the tooth.
Thanks to myths and misconceptions about the procedure, many people are frightened by the thought of having a root canal. We’re going to give an overview of what having root canal therapy involves and answer a common question about root canals:
Will My Root Canal Be Painful?
You might have heard of root canals being depicted as extremely painful but, fortunately, this isn’t how they really are. Improvements in anesthetics and technology in dentistry have made root canal therapy pretty much pain-free. With modern procedures, patients can expect shorter recovery times and less discomfort than in the past.
So, What to Expect?
A root canal treatment will not be as scary if you learn what it involves. The dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the area around the tooth to stop you from having any pain. Though there are some rare instances when the anesthetic may not be entirely effective due to issues like abscesses, your dentist will usually prescribe antibiotics 7 to 10 days ahead of time to avoid them.
When the treatment has been completed and all infection and bacteria are cleared out of the tooth, the endodontist or dentist will remove the nerve from the tooth, a soothing agent will be applied, and a temporary filling will be used to close up the tooth. (A crown will be placed later.) Should there be any pain or discomfort when the procedure is over, it should resolve after twenty-four hours as whatever might be left of the infection is taken care of by the immune system. There may be slight tenderness in the area for a few days following the root canal.
What If It’s Painful?
You can experience some discomfort or pain when your gums are inflamed. Your endodontist or dentist may have removed the nerve from the tooth, but the nerves in the surrounding areas are still there, and the tissue can get swollen and cause discomfort.
No matter the case, remember that it’s not normal to experience over a few days of major pain. If you are experiencing such pain, you should contact your dentist or endodontist as soon as possible.
Are you having a toothache that is concerning you? Contact us now to schedule an appointment to have it checked by one of our dentists at Olney Dental Center.