Root canal therapy is a treatment for restoring a severely diseased or decayed tooth. The treatment is necessary when a tooth infection goes from being just a toothache into an abscess that spreads through the root of the tooth. One major concern that patients often have is the pain they might experience during the procedure. This article addresses those concerns.
If the pulp and nerve tissues inside the tooth get infected, the dentist will recommend root canal therapy to treat the tooth. The fact is that an infected tooth can cause a lot of pain. Patients may experience symptoms such as tooth sensitivity, swelling and pain when chewing or biting. The dentist will clean the insides of the tooth and eliminate the diseased nerve tissues and pulp.
After the dentist removes the infected tissues, patients will no longer have to worry about dealing with the pain and discomfort that accompanies infected pulp or about the infection spreading. Additionally, the treated tooth can last a lifetime, save for injuries or other dental issues, as the dentist will fill the pulp chamber with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha.
After the procedure, usually after one or two dental visits, the dentist fully restores the tooth with a crown or filling. The tooth will be back to normal and usable for chewing or biting.
Contrary to the misconceptions and myths out there, patients feel little to no pain during the root canal procedure. Before beginning treatment, the dentist will apply a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and surrounding area to reduce pain sensation. While the notion of undergoing the procedure may seem dreadful, a root canal is a solution to a problem.
For a few days after the procedure, patients may experience some discomfort and sensitivity. The dentist will recommend over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or aspirin or prescribe a pain medication to ease the temporary discomfort. If the pain does not diminish after a few days or returns after a few months, the treatment was not successful and the tooth could be reinfected. If this happens, patients need to inform their dentist immediately.
After the treatment, it is important to take excellent care of the oral cavity by brushing and flossing daily. Regular appointments with the dentist are also important to prevent dental issues.
If the gums are inflamed, it is possible for some discomfort or pain to be present. Although the dentist will remove the infected tooth's nerves during the treatment, there are still nerves in the surrounding tissues, all of which could get swollen and cause pain. Regardless, it is worth noting that any severe pain should not last longer than a few days. Any longer and the dentist needs to know.
Root canal therapy, if done successfully, can help resolve a tooth infection and alleviate tooth pain. There are anesthetic options and techniques available from the general dentist to keep you comfortable throughout the treatment.
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