Is a root canal a painful dental procedure? Root canals are a safe and effective procedure to save your teeth from nerve infection and are not painful in and of themselves. Yet, many people dread the treatment because of the pain and cost.
You shouldn’t ignore tooth pain because of unnecessary anxiety from a past traumatic dental experience.
The pain you feel is typically a symptom of bacterial decay irritating the nerve of your affected tooth, causing abnormal sensitivity. A severe toothache indicates that the nerve has been irreversibly inflamed and may even be infected by bacteria in the decay. This bacterial infection can spread to other areas of the mouth, increasing your risk of more serious dental issues, such as a pus-filled abscess that requires medical attention.
In healthy teeth, the pulp is protected within the chamber. But if you’ve recently had a dental trauma or developed a severe cavity, it may expose your tooth to bacteria in your mouth. This may lead to an infected tooth, followed by a range of unpleasant symptoms, and ultimately tooth loss. If you are considering a root canal vs. extraction, speak with a root canal specialist first to explore your options. Extraction of a tooth is typically the last resort your dentist will suggest, and only when the tooth can no longer be restored.
Myths that surround root canal treatments include:
- Extremely Painful Procedure: How painful is a root canal treatment these days? Due to recent dental advancements and improved anaesthesia, root canals are just as painless as other simple procedures, such as tooth fillings.
- Tooth Extraction Is Better: Extractions typically cost less and take less time than root canal treatment, but a restored tooth can last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, due to poor oral hygiene, root canal treatment is a common procedure performed each year. If you are experiencing tooth pain and want to avoid root canal treatment altogether, make sure to visit a dentist for routine maintenance, including a check-up, scaling, and polishing.
Oral Hygiene Tips & How to Avoid Root Canal Treatments
Here are some positive oral hygiene tips from our dental surgeons to help stave off the root canal infections:
- Brush and floss your teeth every day. If you don’t, this can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and more serious issues, including infections and abscesses.
- Visit your dentist’s office for preventative treatment every six months, or as directed by your dentist. This gives your dentist the opportunity to identify tooth decay, gum issues, or other oral diseases early, helping mitigate problems down the road.
- Avoid hard or crunchy foods, such as ice, especially if you have fragile teeth or a tooth restoration. These can quickly cause fractured teeth and put your pulp at risk of infection.
- Try to avoid sugary and acidic beverages, such as soda. These can harm your enamel, exposing your teeth to sugar that bacteria feed on.
- Check with your dentist about teeth straightening. Not only do straight teeth give you a more confident smile, but they also benefit oral health by preventing diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease.
If you’re suffering from pain, make an appointment with our dental team to find out the underlying issue, from an infection, failing implants, decaying gums or a fractured root. Your root canal treatment will depend on the extent of damage to your tooth.
How Long Is the Pain After a Root Canal Procedure?
If you are experiencing tooth pain, it’s important to contact your dentist right away. Ignoring your tooth problems will only lead to more serious issues down the road. Root canal treatment is an effective way to save teeth with severe damage caused by decay, enamel cracks or chips, or fractures in the root. According to the British Endodontic Society, this treatment can achieve a success rate of up to 90 per cent, restoring the tooth to proper function.
Don’t let root canal treatment pain scare you away from the dentist when it comes to all things dental-related, because they are such a common procedure for saving badly damaged teeth in adults and children alike.
Root canal treatment side effects are typically minimal and typically resolve within the time needed for the tooth to heal and the infection to resolve. Most sessions take around an hour to complete. The procedure involves removing all infected pulp from the inside of your tooth while leaving as much healthy tissue behind as possible, so there won’t be any negative side effects on other parts of your mouth, such as chewing ability and appearance.
Root canal treatments cannot be claimed from Medisave unless the procedure requires root surgery. Learn more about our root canal treatment, or schedule an appointment with our dentist today to address your dental concerns before they become more serious.
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