Root canal treatment / Endodontic therapy: Do "root canals" hurt?

We'd be the first to acknowledge that root canal treatment has a reputation for being painful, but we'd be the last to agree that this reputation is deserved. It seems most likely to us that the majority of derogatory remarks you hear in regards to "having a root canal" almost certainly must have included in them references to the pain and discomfort that the person experienced leading up to receiving treatment.

For the average person and the average case, root canal treatment is a nonevent and not any more uncomfortable than having a filling placed.

If your confidence needs a little bolstering...

You might be surprised to learn that it is possible that even without anesthetic many teeth needing root canal treatment could be drilled on and you would feel no pain what so ever. In fact, it is conceivable that in some isolated cases (those where active infection and inflammation are not complicating factors) the entire root canal treatment process could be completed without any anesthetic or pain. Why? Simply because in these cases the nerve tissue in the tooth has died, and dead nerve tissue cannot transmit pain sensations.

Should you expect that your root canal therapy can be performed without the use of an anesthetic? No, that's not realistic. But if you are unequivocally anticipating that all root canal treatment results in an excruciatingly painful experience then someone has led you astray.

Will your dentist numb up your tooth prior to performing your root canal treatment?

Almost certainly, and especially if you ask them to. Nobody likes a bad time, not you, not your dentist. Just so things go as smoothly as possible and so there are no surprises, most dentists will go ahead and numb up any tooth on which they are performing root canal treatment.

Remember, your dentist is trying to perform treatment that will hopefully last you a lifetime. They need to be able to concentrate on their work and not on how you are reacting to it. By numbing up your tooth both of you will be more at ease and relaxed.

Root canal treatment is a "good thing."

There are many reasons why a person should be eager to begin root canal treatment. In those cases where a person's tooth has been the source of pain or swelling it is the root canal therapy that will initiate the process by which the painful or swollen tooth can be settled down. In some cases just those beginning steps a dentist takes as a part of performing root canal treatment can provide instant relief. Even in those cases where relief is not total the treatment should at least significantly reduce the pain, and also set the stage where the healing process can begin to take place much more rapidly than if root canal treatment had not been initiated.

Even if an episode of pain and swelling has not been experienced, a person should still be eager to initiate their root canal treatment. In the absence of pain and extensive infection the treatment will just go that much more smoothly. You will be relaxed and well rested. Your tooth will respond to the steps of the procedure more predictably. Additionally, any tooth that is in need of treatment, but has not yet received it, is unpredictable. Having your root canal treatment completed sooner rather than later reduces the chances that you will experience a painful tooth flare up (an acute tooth abscess).