Root canals sound like they would be quite painful. The dentist or endodontist must go into the root, or roots, of the tooth in order to extract diseased or infected tissue and drain abscesses. Many people are in pain prior to getting root canals because of the infection in the roots of the tooth. The pulpy matter in the root contains nerves and blood vessels that do not respond kindly to pressure. Actually, with modern anesthesia, most patients report that root canals are not any more painful than having a tooth filled.

Some people may experience minor to major pain while having root canals. A few things can create this circumstance. If the area around the tooth is not properly anesthetized, one may feel some of the work being done. It’s fine to stop a dentist if you are feeling pain, since normally another application of local anesthetic can stop the pain.

People who fear dentistry often have a higher expectation of pain from dental procedures. Higher expectation of pain, and anxiety about pain can cause increased pain sensitivity. Dentists can address this in a number of ways. Nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, often helps patients relax so that procedures like root canals can be done with ease.

A person with extreme anxiety may also benefit from prescription benzodiazepines like Valium or Xanax. Some doctors now also offer sleeping dentistry, where one is given anesthetic that produces near unconsciousness. This can help the most nervous patient survive a root canal with very minimal pain.

Some people experience pain during root canals because of problems associated with their jaws, especially the thermandibular joint. In some cases, people have trouble with popping, clicking or with the jaw locking. If you are aware of this issue prior to getting root canals, you can discuss options with your dentist. However, you may expect a little bit of jaw soreness after all dental procedures.

After root canals have been completed, many report a little bit of pain for a few days. Some report relief from pain, especially if an infected tooth was particularly troublesome. It is not uncommon to have the tooth feel a bit tender. This can usually be addressed with over the counter pain relief medications like ibuprofen. Ibuprofen reduces swelling so it may also help the jaw joint feel more comfortable. Be sure that ibuprofen or other pain relievers will not interfere with other medical conditions or medications.

Those with a low pain tolerance may find more relief by taking a mild prescription of codeine or other narcotics after root canals. Dentists can prescribe these medications for you if root canals in the past have been poorly tolerated. With medications like codeine, be certain to take these on a full stomach, or one may add a very upset stomach to mouth pain.

If pain continues and is not helped by medications, contact your dentist. Sometimes a root is very narrow and a bit of infection is missed, or this might indicate infection elsewhere near the tooth. Severe pain should be indication that something is not right and one should alert one’s dentist so he or she can assess and address the problem.