“How painful is a root canal?”

A root canal **isn't very painful** due to anesthesia. You'll feel **pressure, not pain** during the procedure. Mild soreness after is normal and can be managed with pain relievers. It actually **relieves tooth pain** from infection!

Typically not painful, you will be numb.

Root canal tx is usually performed under anesthesia. Local anesthesia is given and tx is performed, most patients are very comfortable during an appointment. It should not feel any different than having a cavity restored.

Root canals are an excellent treatment option that's done for various reasons. The treatment isn't supposed to hurt; it's like a filling but takes a lot more time. In some cases however, a patient may have a "hot tooth"which means the tooth is so irritated and the patient is already in pain and the anesthetic isn't effective. In those cases, we usually end up prescribing medications and having the patient return later once they're feeling better so they can be numb during the root canal. It's common for a tooth to be sore after a root canal but it shouldn't be bad enough to keep you up at night. Always follow your dentist's advice and post-op instructions