Will a Root Canal Hurt?
If you see a pimple-like spot on your gums, experience continued sensitivity to hot or cold drinks, or feel pain when chewing, then it is time to ask your dentist about whether you need a root canal.
A root canal therapy is necessary when the pulp of a tooth – that is, the bundle of nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue that helps teeth develop – becomes infected by bacteria. Dentists like Dr. Richard Silvera of Century City perform root canals by accessing the affected tooth and removing the infected pulp. Despite the pulp’s necessity for growing the teeth in the first place, the tissues surrounding a tooth can nourish the tooth and keep it alive long after the pulp is removed. Unless additional circumstances make the procedure impossible in the first place, a root canal lets an infected tooth survive for a very long time.
Unfortunately, many people are scared that root canals hurt and avoid having the procedure done. Years of popular culture jokes about painful dental visits have created a myth of pain surrounding root canals. There’s also the myth that extracting an infected tooth is more effective and a less painful solution than root canal therapy, which has been scientifically disproven multiple times since the 1930s.
The simple truth is that root canal therapies are not a source of pain; they are a solution for pain.
The Infection
The pain you experience before a root canal is due to an infected pulp destroying the tooth from the inside out. The procedure itself, given the anesthesia you receive for it, is often reported to be painless by the patients who undergo it.
While you can save a tooth with a root canal, not undergoing the procedure can cause the tooth, and possibly the portion of the jaw holding the tooth, to be lost. The infection can spread to other teeth and cause more pain and loss. Additionally, the bacteria causing this infection can enter your bloodstream and spread throughout your body, which research has linked to an increased risk of strokes and heart attacks. Not having a root canal is going to be more painful in the long run than having it.
Granted, many people feel a general sensitivity in the area surrounding the tooth after the procedure. The tooth itself can also have an odd feeling as it adjusts to living without a pulp. Your dentist might be able to prescribe a pain medication to manage this until the sensitivity naturally fades. Even then, most of the time, the discomfort following a root canal is nothing compared to the pain of continued infection or extraction.
Schedule Your Root Canal Today
Dr. Richard Silvera performs root canals in a skillful, careful manner to best suite your needs. As great as he is in providing dental implants to replace missing teeth for people from all over the world, he recognizes that saving the natural tooth if possible is the healthiest option. He also uses porcelain crowns to finish the procedure, which closely resemble natural teeth; so most people won’t know you had a root canal. If you find yourself with painful teeth and abscessed gums in Century City, contact us today to see if we can help you!