If a dentist has mentioned root canal treatment, it’s normal to feel anxious. Understanding what it is — and why it’s recommended — usually makes it feel much more manageable.
Signs you may need root canal treatment
- Pain to hot or cold that lingers after the food or drink is gone
- Spontaneous throbbing pain, especially at night
- Pain when biting or touching the tooth
- A gum boil or swelling near one tooth
- A tooth that has darkened after an injury
Sometimes there are no symptoms at all and infection is spotted on an X-ray during a check-up.
Common myths
“Root canals are extremely painful.”
The treatment is done with local anaesthetic. It is usually the infection beforehand that is painful; treatment aims to relieve it.
“It’s better to just pull the tooth.”
Sometimes extraction is the right choice, but keeping a natural tooth has advantages, and replacing a missing tooth adds time and cost. Your dentist will explain both options.
What happens during treatment
After an X-ray and numbing, the dentist makes a small opening, removes the inflamed pulp, cleans the canals and seals them. The tooth is then restored, often with a crown. It may take one to three visits.