{"id":35,"date":"2019-12-07T20:32:23","date_gmt":"2019-12-07T20:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.santaviccadental.com\/blog\/?p=35"},"modified":"2021-08-09T14:57:34","modified_gmt":"2021-08-09T14:57:34","slug":"does-a-root-canal-hurt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.santaviccadental.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/07\/does-a-root-canal-hurt\/","title":{"rendered":"Does a Root Canal Hurt?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"dental<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Root canal therapy, which is sometimes referred to simply as\na \u201croot canal,\u201d is infamous. Many individuals believe that it is an extremely\npainful dental procedure. However, we are here to set the record straight. In\ntruth, root canal therapy is designed to relieve <\/em>pain and save damaged\nteeth from extraction. In this blog post, we discuss what you can expect from\nthis treatment and how you can make the process as comfortable as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Ways to Prevent Pain Before Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many people wait to get root canal therapy until they\nexperience an excruciating toothache. Such a situation is often preventable. If\nyou attend regular oral health checkups, your dentist can spot signs that you\nneed a root canal \u2014 perhaps before you are aware there is a problem. Getting\nthe treatment done as soon as possible will allow it to be more conservative\nand lead to a shorter recovery time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you do wait until you experience pain to receive\nroot canal therapy, you can minimize your pain prior to your procedure with the\nhelp of OTC pain medications. You should also avoid chewing with the affected\ntooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What About Pain During the Procedure?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For most patients, root canal therapy is no more\nuncomfortable than getting a simple filling. Your dentist will make sure the\narea is numb, so you may feel some pressure on your tooth, but true pain is\nhighly unlikely. You may even be sedated, so it is possible that you will only\nbe minimally aware of what is happening during your appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preventing Pain After Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After the numbness and\/or sedation from your procedure wears\noff, your tooth may experience some soreness. OTC pain relievers, such as\nibuprofen, can help to manage your discomfort. You should also be very gentle\nwith the tooth; do not chew with it. Even when you can use it to eat, avoid\nhard or crunchy foods until after you receive a crown to protect the treated\ntooth (if your dentist determines that you require a crown). Within a few days\nto a week, it is likely that you will be able to resume all of your normal\nactivities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions to Ask Regarding Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should ask your dentist some specific questions about\nyour situation to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible before,\nduring, and after your root canal therapy. Some examples of questions you can\nask include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n