Root canal treatment is a frequently performed dental procedure — though many people still feel nervous about it.
Root canal therapy makes it possible to preserve a damaged or infected tooth rather than removing it entirely—and millions of people benefit from this option each year. Each year, more than 15 million root canal treatments are performed, according to the American Association of Endodontists. With the help of cutting-edge dental technology and improved methods, root canal therapy has become one of the most effective and trusted procedures in modern dentistry.
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Research shows root canals have a 90% success rate.
With today’s advanced technology, skilled clinicians can now treat the intricate root canal system with greater precision using surgical microscopes. Furthermore, innovative imaging tools like Cone Beam CT scans offer a 3D view of your tooth, giving your endodontist a clear radiographic roadmap and visual insight into the nerve canal before any work begins.
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That all sounds impressive—but doesn’t a root canal still hurt? Surprisingly, despite dealing with an infected or painful tooth, the actual treatment is typically very comfortable and should involve little to no pain.
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Yes, That’s Right — Painless.​
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With today’s anesthetics and the correct techniques,
We’ve found that this procedure can typically be completed without causing discomfort to the patient. Our approach always includes allowing the anesthetic ample time to take effect before beginning any treatment. Once it has set in, we perform multiple tests to ensure the area is fully numb. Along with choosing the right anesthetic and using proper technique, a clinician’s patience plays a crucial role in delivering a comfortable and pain-free root canal experience.
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So, the tooth will still be sore once the procedure’s done, correct?
Certainly if a tooth is infected or acutely tender, the body needs time to heal and in turn alleviate the inflammation and soreness. Once the root canal system (the dental nerve) is removed and cleaned thoroughly, the body can initiate healing and repair the bone around the tooth. I always tell my patients to expect a couple days of soreness, but overall the tooth should be much improved. After 48-72 hours, our patients are usually pain free. If you have temperature sensitivity prior to the root canal then that sensation is resolved immediately following treatment.
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Over the last 15 years many advances in training and technology have enabled root canal treatment to become one of the most predictable and easy procedures for a patient to experience. With these advances in dentistry and endodontics, patients should have no fear of having a root canal performed.