A root canal is a treatment that saves a tooth when the soft tissue inside it, the pulp, becomes infected or inflamed. Dr. Estrada numbs the area, removes the infected tissue, cleans and seals the inside of the tooth, and usually finishes it with a crown to protect it. With modern numbing, the procedure itself feels a lot like getting a filling, and far from causing pain, it is what relieves the severe pain an infected tooth was giving you. Most people are back to normal within a day or two.

Why a tooth needs a root canal

Inside every tooth is a soft core of nerves and blood vessels called the pulp. When a deep cavity, a crack, or repeated dental work lets bacteria reach that pulp, it gets infected and inflamed. That is what causes the kind of deep, throbbing pain people dread, and often a tooth abscess. A root canal removes that infected tissue so the tooth can stay in your mouth instead of being pulled. Saving your natural tooth is almost always better than losing it.

Does a root canal hurt?

This is the question everyone asks, so let us be straight about it. The reputation comes from a time before modern anesthesia. Today the area is thoroughly numbed, and the procedure itself feels much like having a filling done. The pain people associate with root canals is really the pain of the infection beforehand, and the root canal is what ends it. If the thought still makes you tense, that is completely normal, and our sedation options let you stay relaxed from start to finish.

What happens during the procedure

  • Numbing. Dr. Estrada fully numbs the tooth and the area around it so you are comfortable before anything begins.
  • Access. A small opening is made in the top of the tooth to reach the pulp inside.
  • Cleaning. The infected and inflamed tissue is removed, and the inside of the tooth is carefully cleaned and shaped.
  • Sealing. The cleaned space is filled and sealed to keep bacteria out.
  • Protecting. Because a treated tooth becomes more brittle, it is usually capped with a crown so it can handle normal biting again. Our post on what a dental crown does explains that step.

What recovery is like

Most people go back to their normal day right after, though it is wise to wait until the numbness wears off before eating. The tooth and gum may feel tender for a few days, which is easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief. Chew on the other side until any final crown is placed, and keep up your normal brushing and flossing. Serious complications are uncommon, but call us if you have severe pain, swelling, or the bite feels off after a few days.

Saving the tooth versus pulling it

Sometimes people ask why not just pull the tooth. An extraction is quicker in the moment, but losing a tooth creates new problems: the teeth around it can drift, the bone beneath can shrink, and you then face replacing it. Our post on what happens if you do not replace a missing tooth covers why. When a tooth can be saved, keeping your own is usually the better long-term choice.

If you are in pain, do not wait

An infected tooth will not get better on its own, and the sooner it is treated, the more comfortable the whole process is. If you are having tooth pain, call Estrada Dentistry at (727) 869-3886. Dr. Estrada will look at what is going on, explain your options clearly, and if a root canal is what you need, take care of it gently. Learn more on our emergency dental care page or request a visit through our contact page.