For most people, no. The tooth is numbed with local anaesthetic, so you feel pressure and vibration rather than pain. The pain people associate with root canals usually comes from the infection beforehand, and treatment is what relieves it.
Why the reputation
Root canal treatment is usually needed when the nerve inside a tooth is already inflamed or infected. That causes throbbing pain, often at night. Because the pain and the treatment come together, people remember them together.
Before treatment
The dentist tests the tooth and takes an X-ray. If the area is very inflamed, anaesthetic can take longer to work, so the dentist waits and tests before starting. If there is swelling, the first visit may only drain the infection and place medicine.
During treatment
Local anaesthetic numbs the tooth and the gum around it. A rubber sheet (rubber dam) keeps the tooth dry. You will feel:
- pressure as the tooth is opened
- vibration from the instruments
- the sound of the suction
If you feel sharp pain at any point, raise your hand. More anaesthetic can be given.
After treatment
The numbness lasts 2–3 hours. For 2–5 days the tooth may feel tender when you bite, because the tissue around the root tip is settling. The pain relief you normally take is usually enough.
What makes it easier
- Treating the tooth early, before an abscess forms
- Telling the dentist if you are anxious; breaks can be planned
- Eating before the appointment, because you should not chew until the numbness wears off
When to see a dentist
- Throbbing pain that lingers after hot or cold
- Pain that wakes you at night
- Swelling of the gum or face
- A pimple on the gum near a tooth
Related treatment: Root canal treatment →