What is a root canal and does it hurt? The famous "killing the nerve"

In short: a root canal is the treatment that cleans and seals the inside of a tooth when the nerve is damaged or infected, what people call “killing the nerve”. It serves to save the tooth and remove the pain instead of extracting it. Today, with anaesthetic, it does not hurt: in fact, it almost always relieves the pain you arrive with. Afterwards the tooth may be sensitive for a few days.

What exactly is a root canal?

Inside each tooth there is a soft tissue with nerves and vessels: the pulp. When deep decay, a crack or a knock reach it, the pulp becomes inflamed or infected and that very characteristic pain appears (sometimes unbearable, especially at night).

A root canal consists of removing that damaged pulp, cleaning and disinfecting the canals on the inside and sealing them. This eliminates the infection and preserves the tooth, which stays in place doing its job. It is the heart of endodontics and of the dentistry that saves teeth rather than removing them.

Why are people so afraid of it if it does not hurt?

Because of its reputation from decades ago. It used to be a more uncomfortable treatment, and that memory has stuck in the collective imagination. Today it is done with local anaesthetic and better techniques, so during the procedure you feel no pain, just like a slightly longer filling.

What is true: the pain that hurts is the one before treatment, that of the infection. The root canal is the solution to that pain, not the cause.

What is recovery like?

For the first 24-72 hours the tooth may be sensitive when biting, especially if there was a lot of infection. It is well controlled with the anti-inflammatory the dentist prescribes you. It is best to chew on the other side for now and not put pressure on that tooth until it is restored.

Why is a crown almost always needed afterwards?

Because a tooth that has had a root canal becomes more fragile (it has lost tissue inside and there is usually a large decay cavity to begin with). To stop it fracturing, it is usual to protect it afterwards with a crown. We explain it in after a root canal, do I need a crown?.

The alternative to a root canal is usually to take the tooth out, and that opens another can of worms (a gap that then has to be filled with an implant or a bridge). That is why, when the tooth can be saved, it is almost always worth it. We compare them in root canal or extraction.

If you have a tooth that hurts or throbs, do not leave it: the sooner it is treated, the better. The first visit is free and we tell you exactly what is wrong with it. Book an appointment today.