The Truth About Root Canal Pain: Before, During, and After
The most painful part of a root canal is often the pain you feel before the procedure begins. This is usually due to infection or inflammation in the tooth’s pulp, causing intense toothaches and throbbing pain. During the root canal itself, modern dentistry uses local anesthesia to numb the area, so the procedure is mostly pain-free.
Pain Before the Root Canal
Typically, the worst discomfort happens before the treatment, when the nerve inside the tooth is infected. This infection can cause sharp or throbbing pain that can make everyday activities difficult.
Pain During the Procedure
Thanks to anesthesia, most people report feeling pressure or vibration during the root canal but very little sharp pain. The dentist carefully removes infected tissue, cleans, and disinfects the root canals while keeping the patient comfortable.
Pain After the Procedure
Some soreness or mild tenderness can occur for a few days after the root canal. This post-treatment pain is usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers and subsides quickly.
Statistics show that once treated, root canal pain drastically reduces. In fact, studies found that pain prevalence drops from around 81% before treatment to less than 15% at one week after the procedure.
At Schwimmer Dental in New Jersey, expert care and advanced techniques ensure that the root canal is as comfortable as possible. For personalized treatment tailored to your needs, call us to schedule a consultation and experience pain relief firsthand.
Sources:
- https://www.aae.org/specialty/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/07/ecfeacutedentalpainbonus1.pdf
- https://snodgrassking.com/reasons-you-can-have-pain-after-a-root-canal/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2832800/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6695063/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21759-root-canal
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0099239983801903
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-96777-8
