Does root canal hurt?

One of the important and frequently asked questions is “does root canal hurt?”. The simple answer is no. As long as you are fully numb before the treatment is started and you take the appropriate pre and post treatment medications it’s not going to be painful. Sometime there can be unavoidable complications that can’t be foreseen, but on the whole it should be painless. You can expect a little bit of discomfort after the treatment but pain medications will minimise this discomfort.

How long does the discomfort last after root canal?

The discomfort will normally settle within 3 days. Some time it may take up to  14 days to settle if the treatment has been done correctly.

How Many appointments will it take?

Nowadays the majority of cases can be completed in just one visit. This depends on your dentist, but the new evidence has shown that if you have enough time to complete all the steps correctly in one visit there is no need to dress the tooth and bring the patient back for a subsequent visit or visits.

Do I need a crown after root canal treatment?

In most cases a cuspal coverage restoration (crown) is needed to protect the weakened tooth structure. By the nature of root canal you are required to remove more tooth tissue to access the chamber and the roots of the tooth and thus weaken the remaining tooth. Sometimes teeth requiring a root canal have not undergone any destruction and the access may be minimal. In these cases a crown may not be required.

Are there any other options?

If a tooth cannot be saved due to the amount of destruction or you simply do not want the root canal treatment then extracting the tooth is your next option. However, by extracting the tooth you will be left with a gap in this area.

How long will the treatment last?

If the treatment is done properly, restored properly and well maintained then you could expect the tooth to last you. However, there can be many things that go on along the way! You should expect a well maintained root treated tooth to last you over years. Hopefully the rest of your life if you maintain it well enough.

How successful are root canals?

If done correctly you should to achieve close to 95% success rate of the treatment. However, treatments not done ideally will need re treating and the success of these retreatment’s are less. That’s why it is important you have the treatment completed by an Endodontist or a dentist who has advanced training.

If you require a root canal in Liverpool then contact us