Is Root Canal Therapy Painful?

There is a misbelief that root canal therapy is painful, and many people are afraid of this treatment; however, root canal treatment near you actually saves your tooth. Usually, when a tooth is severely damaged, your dental professional has two options; either they extract the tooth or perform root canal therapy in Livonia. We strongly recommend the second one because extending the life of a natural tooth will always be the best for the patient.

When a dentist near you extracts a tooth, it has an impact on your oral health. The neighboring teeth rotate towards space, creating new gaps where food can accumulate. Also, the tooth opposite the missing tooth will slowly come out of its sockets to find a point of contact, and you will experience bone loss due to the lack of mastication in that area. Due to these and other reasons, it is best to visit an endodontic dentist in Livonia who can save your damaged tooth.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal consists of removing the infected pulp and connective tissues of your tooth, disinfect the canals, reshape them, and fill them with a biocompatible material. Your dental professional will place a temporary cement, and in a second appointment, the permanent restoration (usually a porcelain dental crown).

Your dental professional will freeze the area with a local anesthetic for you not to feel any pain. 

Is a Root Canal Painful?

On the contrary to what many people believe, a root canal is not painful. Thanks to modern techniques, it is no more uncomfortable than the placing of a dental filling.

After the procedure, you may feel some discomfort, but you may alleviate it with any over-the-counter medication. You may also apply ice packs on the side of the face of the treated side to reduce the pain. 

For anxious patients, we recommend discussing sedation dentistry with an endodontic dentist near you to feel calm during the procedure. Let’s discuss it.

Sedation Dentistry

If you suffer from dental anxiety, we strongly suggest opting for sedation dentistry before undergoing any dental procedures. It is a safe technique, and it has helped many of our patients to undergo root canal therapy without any concerns or fears.

Among the different sedation dentistry methods, you may find:

· Oral Sedation – It is the most common method, and it consists of taking a sedative (a pill or in a liquid presentation) about an hour before the procedure. You will feel drowsy about an hour later and won’t feel any discomfort. The effects wear off a couple of hours afterward, so you may want to arrange your drive home if you choose this method.

· Nitrous Oxide – It is also known as laughing gas, and it will make you feel relaxed during the procedure. Your dental professional will place a mask over your nose, and as you inhale, the effects will be immediate. After he or she removes it, the side effects will wear off; therefore, you may drive home by yourself.

· IV Sedation – It is a deep form of sedation, and it consists of applying a sedative intravenously. You will be asleep during the procedure but conscious. After you wake up, you will still feel drowsy; hence, you should also make arrangements to drive back home. If you choose this method of sedation, you may resume your daily activities the next day.

if you have any other questions, feel free to contact our dental offices. We have a team of professionals who look forward to helping you restore your smile and make the treatments as pleasant as possible.