There are 15 million root canals performed in the United States every year. That’s five percent of the population.
Despite this dental procedure being so common, there are still a lot of misconceptions about it. In fact, the entire field of dentistry is surrounded by falsehoods, and for many different reasons.
What’s a root canal really like, though? Do root canals hurt?
We’ll answer this, and many other questions, in this article.
Do Root Canals Hurt?
The short answer is no, not usually. Root canals are often built up as a horrible, painful experience, but that’s not common.
A root canal would probably hurt if you got it without an anesthetic, but that’s more of an academic exercise. Most of us would prefer not to find out.
What we do know is that you’ll often experience pain before getting a root canal. A root canal procedure is needed because the nerve inside the tooth is dying or has died. A dead nerve doesn’t mean you won’t feel pain, because they can get infected, and the body responds with inflammation.
How Long Does a Root Canal Take?
The time it takes to complete a root canal often varies depending on the circumstances. Most of the time, it won’t last more than 90 minutes. Sometimes, it only lasts about half an hour.
However, the procedure will last longer if your tooth is more damaged. This requires a complex root canal. With a complex root canal, the damage is extensive enough that the tooth may need to be pulled and replaced entirely.
The best way to stop a complex root canal is to avoid it. Preventative dentistry can help with this.
Is There Pain After a Root Canal?
There’s usually some pain after a root canal, but not immediately. Before a root canal, the dentist will inject Novocaine into your gums.
Novocaine is a local anesthetic, designed to numb one specific area of the body, in this case, gums and teeth. Most local anesthetics between four and six hours, but Novocaine is different. Novocaine lasts no more than two hours in most cases.
Once the anesthetic wears off, there will be some pain. However, this pain won’t last more than a few days. If it lasts longer, it may be a sign that something went wrong with your procedure.
Do Root Canals Hurt: Questions and Misconceptions About Root Canals
It’s a common question for dentists–do root canals hurt? The truth is that root canals aren’t painful if you do them right.
That’s just one of many questions and falsehoods surrounding this common dental procedure. We’ve talked about a few of them in this article, but if you have any additional questions it’s best to do more research.
If you want more information and advice on dental health or are looking for a new dentist please visit our site. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
