Root Canal Pain

Just the idea of a root canal cary nc can cause some people’s stomachs to flip. This dental treatment has gotten quite a bad rap through movies, comedies, and exaggerate horror stories. But what is a root canal really? And is it really painful? If you are having tooth pain and the dentist suggests that a root canal may be in your future, it is worthwhile to do a little research to find the facts and be well informed. Thanks to advancements in science and technology, the horror stories about root canals and the pain associated with them are tall tales from the past. Below is some information on the root canal procedure and what you can expect during your recovery.

What is a root canal?

Before we get started, it is important to be clear that the procedure itself is not painful, and not the source of pain individuals usually talk about. A root canal occurs over many steps. The goal of the procedure is to create an opening in the sore or infected tooth and remove the dead or damaged root of the tooth. This root is called the pulp and is a fiber like tissue. While the dentist is in the process of creating an opening to the tooth and removing the damaged pulp there is very little discomfort. This is in large part thanks to modern anesthesia and surgical advancements. In fact, the majority of the pain experienced is from the damaged or infected tooth PRIOR to the treatment. Once the dentist is able to get inside the tooth and remove the infected or damaged pulp, the infection should be eliminated and a majority of the pain relieved. While the dentist is in the tooth he will clean it out, clean out the root canal, and fill the tooth.

Should you expect pain after?

Once the diseased tooth is treated and filled the source of the pain should be gone, but there will still be some residual pain and soreness to the area around the tooth. If you are afraid of this, have a conversation with your dentist, he will be able to talk this through with you and potentially prescribe some medication to help alleviate some of the pain and soreness.

Why not just pull the tooth?

You may be asking why it is necessary to do all of this work of drilling into the tooth and removing the diseased root. Why not just pull the tooth out? Well, the great thing about a root canal is you are preserving your natural tooth. If a tooth is extracted afterwards it needs to be replaced with a dental implant or a bridge. These alternative options can be not only costly, but can cause more stress for you and for your mouth. When possible, dentists do their very best to keep your natural tooth. The best thing to know is that if you are experiencing tooth pain, the sooner you visit your dentist the better. Root canals are easier, less expensive, and more likely to be successful if they are done earlier rather than later.

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