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How painful is a root canal procedure?

A root canal procedure has always been regarded as uncomfortable and painful by most individuals. The good news is that this statement doesn’t hold true anymore. According to the best dentists in Mumbai, the root canal procedure has become very comfortable and relatively painless. This is due to the development in dental sciences compared to earlier times. A root canal procedure treats the diseased soft tissues of the tooth (pulp) and helps preserve the hard tissues. The best dentists in Mumbai say that a root canal procedure doesn’t hurt any more than a simple filling. Individuals undergoing it should be able to return to their normal activities immediately. 

Dentist giving Anaesthesia to Patient

Is it painful?

A root canal treatment may cause some discomfort mostly because you may already be in extreme pain. The best dentists in Mumbai suggest that the pain felt comes from the infection and not from the treatment. The root canal procedure actually alleviates pain and recovery time is very minimal. The dental surgeon will relieve the pain of the procedure by numbing the tooth and the surrounding area with local anaesthesia before beginning the procedure. When the anaesthesia wears off, the gums around the tooth can experience mild soreness from

  • the rubber dam clamp, 
  • the cleaning procedure, 
  • the instrumentation

The tolerance of different individuals to pain varies widely, so it’s difficult to predict how painful a root canal might be for you.

After the treatment, some tenderness is normal. 

The tolerance of different individuals to pain varies widely, so it’s difficult to predict how painful a root canal might be for you.

The structure model of Human Tooth

Why is it painful?

A root canal procedure aims at cleaning and removing the diseased nerves in the tooth. Although the nerves are no longer inside the tooth, there are still some nerve endings around the outside of the tooth that may be inflamed and irritated as a result of an abscess (infection in the tooth) or the root canal treatment itself which can cause mild pain.

How long will pain last following a root canal?

A successful root canal treatment can cause mild pain for a day at most after treatment.

The best dentists in Mumbai say this pain isn’t severe and should start to decrease as time goes by.  

In most cases, this pain can be relieved by over-the-counter painkillers. 

The best dentists in Mumbai suggest that most patients can return to normal activities the same day or a day after treatment.

Patients experiencing extreme pain after a root canal that isn’t improving should schedule an appointment with the dentist to check for any complications.

Aftercare tips suggested by the best dentists in Mumbai

Wait till your anaesthesia has worn off and you don’t feel any numbness before attempting to eat to prevent any injury to the tongue and cheeks.

 It is important to refrain from chewing or biting down on the affected tooth until the final cap has been completed. The temporary filling is delicate and can break while chewing something hard.

Limit your diet to foodstuffs that do not require much chewing to avoid harming your tooth.

If there is swelling, use an ice pack or a few ice cubes in a handkerchief externally.

You can rinse your mouth with lukewarm saltwater to keep food particles out of the unprotected tooth during this time.

Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing twice using a soft-bristled brush.

If you smoke, it would be better to avoid smoking for a few days after a root canal procedure for quicker healing.

Avoid strenuous exercises immediately after the procedure.

Resting can help speed up the recovery process.

There is no concrete answer to the question of how painful a root canal procedure is. Each patient is unique and will take a different amount of time to return to normalcy. However, do not let the thought of mild pain deter you from getting one done!

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