Does a root canal hurt?

From the Root canal treatment guide

A root canal should not be painful. It is done under local anaesthetic and feels much like having a filling. The pain people associate with root canals is the pain of the infected tooth before treatment, and the root canal is what stops it.

What is a root canal?

Inside every tooth is soft tissue called the pulp. When decay or a crack lets bacteria reach it, the pulp becomes infected, which can cause severe pain or an abscess. A root canal removes the infected tissue, cleans and seals the inside of the tooth, and lets you keep the tooth.

What actually happens, and will it hurt?

1. Numbing. The tooth and surrounding area are numbed with local anaesthetic.
2. Access. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth.
3. Cleaning. The infected tissue is removed and the canals are cleaned and shaped.
4. Sealing. The canals are filled and sealed.
5. Restoring. The tooth gets a filling and often a crown to protect it.

It usually takes 1 to 2 visits of 60 to 90 minutes. The tooth may feel tender for a few days afterwards, and ordinary painkillers usually handle that.

What are the common myths?

“It is the most painful thing a dentist does.” Modern anaesthetic means it should feel much like a filling.

“It is better to just pull the tooth.” Keeping your own tooth is almost always better if it can be saved. Compare the two.

“If the pain stops, the infection has gone.” Pain can stop because the nerve has died, while the infection remains. It still needs treatment.

“A treated tooth is dead and useless.” A well-restored tooth can keep working for many years.

Do you need one?

Signs include lingering pain with hot or cold, pain when biting, swelling or a pimple on the gum. Only an examination and X-ray can confirm it. Treatment starts from KES 12,000.