How Painful is Root Canal Treatment?

You may have heard the phrase, “almost as painful as a root canal.” It is a common phrase, but it has led to many of our patients asking us how painful a root canal treatment, or endodontic therapy, really is. Unfortunately, endodontic treatments have gotten a bad reputation over the years, but in reality, they are one of the more important treatments in dentistry today and are not only generally painless but actually relieve pain.

Because oral infections and abscesses often cause extreme pain and throbbing toothaches, treatment usually results in an immediate reduction in pain. Most patients find that their pain is dramatically reduced or eliminated. Some patients, particularly those with severe infections, may experience some lingering discomfort as the inflammation subsides, but this is usually significantly less after the endodontic treatment.

During your endodontic treatment, we will use anesthetics to numb the entire area. If you are feeling apprehensive or nervous, additional sedation may be available to ease your discomfort. We will not start the procedure until you are completely numb, which means that the procedure itself should be entirely painless for you. Give us a call today to find out more or to schedule an appointment with our Northridge dentist.