Ok, awhile back my dentist said that if I experience sharp pains near one of my teeth it is a good sign I will need a root canal. Today I have noticed that pain, several months after his warning. Is a root canal as horrible and painful and awful as it sounds?
Disclaimer: The information in this website should not be used as a substitute for the care and advice of your personal dentist or another physician.
#1 by Anonymous on February 12, 2010 - 4:02 am
Actually, you should feel a LOT better after the root canal. The innermost layer of your tooth, called the pulp, has died in that tooth and the resulting infection and decayed tissue is causing the pain and infection. (Pulp is made up of nerves, blood vessels, and various fibrous stuff so it’s very much alive until there is a problem.) There may be some pain or sensitivity afterwards as there might be for any dental procedure, but it shouldn’t last too long and you will probably love how it feels once it all heals up. After all, you’re fixing and saving this tooth and people often find great relief after a root canal. And you’re totally numb for the procedure. Here’s what to expect:
–You’ll get local anesthetic to numb the area. There is very little drilling involved in a root canal, so you shouldn’t feel ANYTHING. If anything is uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to tell the dentist, who will gladly give you more anesthetic. Don’t just lie there in pain! Some people metabolize novacaine quickly, so also let them know if it’s starting to wear off.
–They may place a rubber dam over that tooth to isolate it. They do that by putting a metal clamp over the tooth to hold the dam down, then stretching the dam over the tooth. It may take a few minutes to get used to the rubber near your mouth, but it will be a lot better for you because you won’t swallow anything that’s being used for the procedure and the tooth stays nice and dry for the dentist.
–The dentist will use a handpiece (drill) to get access to the inside of the tooth. You will hear and feel drilling for this part, but it usually only takes a few minutes.
–The dentist will then begin the main part of the root canal therapy, which is to find the canals and begin to clean and shape them. For most of this, he or she will use something called “files”, either held in the fingers or put on a very slow handpiece. They will look like long wires, but you won’t feel them at all. They are used to clean all the dead tissue out of the canals and shape them so the walls are smooth and can receive the fake pulp better. This is the most important part of the root canal, so it may take some time and patience on both your parts. It takes a lot of poking around to find the canals and make sure they’re smoothed.
–The dentist may use an “apex locater.” You may get a metal hook draped over your lip, which doesn’t hurt at all (it just rests on your lip.) The dentist then places a file in the tooth which is connected to a machine, and the machine can actually tell if the dentist has reached the tip of the root yet. It’s actually a really interesting device! ask plenty of questions if you’re curious.
–The dentist will fill the canals with fake pulp, called “gutta percha.” It may be heated or put in a solvent to soften it to go in the tooth, then it will be inserted. It may take a few steps to pack it in because it’s really important to make a good seal.
–The dentist will place a temporary filling on top of the tooth and you’re done! The tooth may need to be crowned later.
Remember, you have the right to ask questions, express your concerns, and discuss everything with the dentist. Good luck!
#2 by Jen on February 12, 2010 - 4:32 am
Okay, I’m not a dentist, but I did have to have three root canal ops on one of my teeth last year and it’s nothing to be afraid of
In fact, I’m a bit of a wimp
I know!
You won’t feel any pain during the operation/s, and while I was *very uncomfortable* for the first day after the first operation a combination of Panadol, Ibuprofen and food and liquids at room temperature (nothing hot or cold) got me through the first day, the second two ops did not hurt at all, the left side of my face was a little puffy for the first few hours
I’m not strong or tough
So go and get it checked out – ASAP
The longer you wait, the worse it will potentially get, but everything will work out for the best
Trust me
#3 by joenelen on February 12, 2010 - 9:13 am
No! The doctor will administer anesthesia during the procedure. Unless there is part of the nerve that is still vital or uninfected. It would hurt a little during the extirpation/removal of the nerve. Or the abscess is so big that it requires apicoectomy (surgical removal of the abscess or cyst following Root Canal Treatment).
Honestly Root Canal Treatment is no big deal! I’ve done it so many times and my patients never complain that it hurt.
#4 by Devin on February 12, 2010 - 2:01 pm
ok don’t believe any of these idiots! I am 14 years old, and I got it done about 6 weeks ago! it shouldn’t hurt at all when it happens but you smell something weird, and after wards once the freezing is done, it may hurt for a few days, but just take some advil or tylenol, and you should be fine, I am in a bit of pain but i have been taking lots of advil
#5 by J u l i e<3 on February 12, 2010 - 2:38 pm
my mom got a root canal.
she said it wasnt too bad, but the pain was horrible.
she was helping me with my homework the night she got it done and we were sitting on the couch and im like whats this question? and im like hello? and she fell asleep cause the pain knocked her out..she dealt with it okay though, and recovered quickly.
#6 by Banana freak! on February 12, 2010 - 3:44 pm
Yes. Check out this link: http://www.barbonedental.com/Endo.htm
By the way, can you answer my question:
POLL: Yahoo! or Google?http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…
Its an interesting question. PLEASE answer. Thanks.
#7 by Sh-boom. on February 12, 2010 - 5:15 pm
Have you seen Finding Nemo?