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wryter2000

(47,454 posts)
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:10 PM Oct 2022

What can I expect with a root canal?

I'm having my first next week. Note: I'm not asking for advice. The decision has been made. What I want to know is what kind of misery during and after the procedure can I expect? And any tips for how to deal with it.

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What can I expect with a root canal? (Original Post) wryter2000 Oct 2022 OP
They are not the dread of the old days. With a good dentist it is painless. Chainfire Oct 2022 #1
This message was self-deleted by its author claudette Oct 2022 #9
If your endodontist is competent Jilly_in_VA Oct 2022 #2
They give lots of novacaine. Turbineguy Oct 2022 #3
anticipation is way worse than the procedure.... bahboo Oct 2022 #4
Mine was no problem at all, though the procedure itself was uncomfortable (but not painful) Midnight Writer Oct 2022 #5
FWIW, I've had several root canals and I've never had any problems. A bit sore day of, but alwaysinasnit Oct 2022 #6
Soft food wryter2000 Oct 2022 #21
My first and only was a piece of cake. yonder Oct 2022 #7
These days it's no more to be feared than any other dental procedure. It might take longer, enough Oct 2022 #8
Expect claudette Oct 2022 #10
If you have any discomfort in the middle of the process... TheRealNorth Oct 2022 #11
Before starting claudette Oct 2022 #13
My dentist is very good about pain control wryter2000 Oct 2022 #22
No big deal. The only weird part is when you can feel them NewHendoLib Oct 2022 #12
That's the digging part claudette Oct 2022 #14
From a great dentist? Almost nothing. Jirel Oct 2022 #15
I have had quite a few and MOMFUDSKI Oct 2022 #16
A friend said his hurt for maybe a nanosecond Warpy Oct 2022 #17
I've had several done and my dentists have been superb. phylny Oct 2022 #18
Thank you all! wryter2000 Oct 2022 #19
Relief. Really. twodogsbarking Oct 2022 #20
I had a root canal on a one root tooth yesterday womanofthehills Oct 2022 #23
 

Chainfire

(17,757 posts)
1. They are not the dread of the old days. With a good dentist it is painless.
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:17 PM
Oct 2022

Don't worry about it, you will be fine.

Response to Chainfire (Reply #1)

Jilly_in_VA

(10,886 posts)
2. If your endodontist is competent
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:19 PM
Oct 2022

any discomfort should be minor. You will be numbed good and proper and the main discomfort will be having your mouth wide open for a considerable period of time. I've had a few and I'm considered pretty hard to numb, so I'm telling you it's not anything like horror stories you may have been told. Any problems afterward may be some soreness at the injection sites or places where the dentist may have had to place something to help keep your mouth wide open so he can get where s/he's going. You'll probably want to avoid extremes of hot, cold, or spicy food for a day or two after if your injection sites are sore. Good luck! (I have dental phobia so please be assured I'm telling you the truth!)

Turbineguy

(38,376 posts)
3. They give lots of novacaine.
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:20 PM
Oct 2022

It's a piece of cake. They've really made it much better, but the procedure has a bad reputation.

I've had 5 of them.

Midnight Writer

(22,972 posts)
5. Mine was no problem at all, though the procedure itself was uncomfortable (but not painful)
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:23 PM
Oct 2022

Had it done in the evening, after hours. Was fine to go to work the next morning.

alwaysinasnit

(5,253 posts)
6. FWIW, I've had several root canals and I've never had any problems. A bit sore day of, but
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:24 PM
Oct 2022

day after I'm fine. I would just eat soft foods for a day or two. I hope your procedure goes well.

yonder

(10,002 posts)
7. My first and only was a piece of cake.
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:31 PM
Oct 2022

I was close to panic with dread due entirely to awful stories I had always heard. I suppose some procedures might have complications but in my case, nothing to it.

enough

(13,454 posts)
8. These days it's no more to be feared than any other dental procedure. It might take longer,
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:37 PM
Oct 2022

but a competent dentist or endodontist knows exactly how to use Novocain for the situation, before the procedure and during if necessary.

claudette

(4,492 posts)
10. Expect
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:45 PM
Oct 2022

lots of Novocain, no real pain during the drilling, joy when the dentist says “nerve is out” no pain now, lots of digging, temporary crown put in. Done. Some discomfort after the Novocain wears off but Ibuprofen works on that. No problem. I had 2 but hope I never have to go through such an intense procedure. Even worse than an extraction. But don’t listen to me. I have ALWAYS hated going to the dentist. LOL

TheRealNorth

(9,629 posts)
11. If you have any discomfort in the middle of the process...
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:47 PM
Oct 2022

Don't be afraid to ask for another shot of novocaine (or whatever it is they use nowadays). I actually had to have it done over 2 visits, because my root structure was pretty complex and one visit wasn't enough to get it all entirely.

But otherwise, pain during the procedure isn't an issue as long as they gave you enough pain killer. Probably will have more discomfort afterwards for a few days, which can be treated with ibuprofen or a acetominophen.

claudette

(4,492 posts)
13. Before starting
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:54 PM
Oct 2022

any procedure, my dentist always says “raise your hand if you feel pain.” I ❣️him for that!!😊

NewHendoLib

(60,500 posts)
12. No big deal. The only weird part is when you can feel them
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 01:48 PM
Oct 2022

Cleaning out the infected root. Not a pain...just a unique sensation!

Jirel

(2,259 posts)
15. From a great dentist? Almost nothing.
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 02:21 PM
Oct 2022

It all depends on how good your dentist is. Mine is ex-military, used to working in battlefield conditions, and a former professor, so he is HELLA fast and good. He numbs you up so hard that half your face will be numb for the rest of the day, and is in and out with no pain and as fast as a basic filling. The only irritating part is doing a temporary casting for the fake tooth - nasty tasting, drooly, and may take more than one try. Afterward, he usually gives me an RX for 5 hydrocodone. I’ve only ever needed 1/2 of one, the time he was training a new assistant so there had been a bit more fumbling. The other 2, I had no appreciable pain afterward. Finally, you have to come back for your permanent fake tooth when it’s ready. Easy-peasy, and quick.

Mileage may vary depending on the dentist, of course. If an oral surgeon is doing it, chances are it’ll be a lot like my dentist. If it’s a regular dentist, you may have technique from crappy and slow, to excellent, with a lot more variability.

 

MOMFUDSKI

(7,080 posts)
16. I have had quite a few and
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 02:23 PM
Oct 2022

no pain at all. The only thing that did happen to me once was a heart-pounding episode that scared me a lot. Thought I was having a heart attack. Dentist and nurse said nothing although they could see veins in my neck pounding. Talked to neighbor nurse later that day and she said the novocaine contains epinephrine and a big dose can cause that. Only last a minute or two. Why don't the dentists tell you it MAY happen and then you could ride it out. A good doc years ago froze my upper arm to remove a skin cancer and did forewarn me but that was after the endodontist fiasco. You have your good docs and you have the others . . . You will be fine. And let your dentist know you are aware of the epinephrine and what could possibly happen.

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
17. A friend said his hurt for maybe a nanosecond
Wed Oct 5, 2022, 02:34 PM
Oct 2022

Getting the temporary and permanent crowns to seat properly seems to be the fiddly bit.

womanofthehills

(9,265 posts)
23. I had a root canal on a one root tooth yesterday
Fri Oct 7, 2022, 11:21 PM
Oct 2022

My dentist is into Lazar dentistry. Once my mouth was numb, he did the root canal in 5 minutes - bunch of flashing lights. Definitely not like yrs ago. No pain at all.

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