I am having Root Canal next Friday after suffering for three months with an abscess, will it hurt?

Question

I am having Root Canal next Friday after suffering for three months with an abscess, will it hurt?

I am in no pain, but have a small abscess on the gum which is only slightly painful to touch and does drain by itself! I have a quote of £350 (Private) to get the work done.

I guess I am just wondering, how long it will take and whether it will hurt or not?

Also....do you think I have left it too long for it to work and not cause serious complications.?

Answer 1

I have had many root canals & none of them hurt. Some root canals are done in three phases but mine were done during one appointment. I was given a shot to numb the area, as you will have, & I had no pain during the process, whatsoever. My last root canal went so well (the dentist said) & it was all over in an hour. As for after pain once the shot wore off, it was minimal & Tylenol worked just fine. At least now, you can put three months of suffering behind you.

Answer 2

First of all, the dentist will give u a local anesthetic to numb the area he will be working in, so u wont have pain, only maybe a slight discomfort. And secondly because u have an abscess, it means the tooth is not vital or its a non-vital tooth whose nerves are damaged so you wont feel the pain. But the dentist may prescribe antibiotics to take care of the abscess, which u have to take as instructed.
Depending on the condition of the tooth the dentist may advise u either for a one appt. Root canal or maybe he may call u a few times.And even tough u have delayed in getting the root canal,its not like the tooth cannot be saved. Now it depends on how badly decayed your tooth is, coz after a root canal, the tooth becomes brittle and a crown/ cap is necessary.. and enough of your tooth structure should remain so that it can be put onto the tooth. but I'm sure there should be enough to build it up and put the crown in later, after this is finished. But make sure u keep your appointments this time.. do not leave it halfway... Hope everything works out.

Answer 3

The only discomfort you should feel is the initial injection of anesthetic, and possibly, some post operative soreness. If you feel any pain during the procedure, let your dentist know. You will probably be wearing a rubber dam, which makes speaking difficult. Usually raising the hand that is closest to the assistant will alert your dentist that something is bothering you. Once in a while, the dentist may have to inject anesthetic directly into the pulp chamber of the tooth- this can really hurt, but normally only for a second or two, and generally works to stop any pain you may be experiencing. Most of the dentists I have worked with recommend ibuprofen for any post operative pain. It's not a bad idea to take a couple before the numbness wears off.
Typically, a root canal on a molar takes two appointments, first to remove the infected material and medicate the tooth. That usually takes a half hour or so. On your second appointment, your dentist will clean and smooth the walls of the canals, and seal them from the tip if the root to the pulp chamber with a material called gutta percha, and then he/she may place a temporary filling, or possibly place a more permanent build up material in your tooth. Depending on your dentist, that should take an hour to an hour and a half. Eventually, you will probably need to have a crown placed on your tooth to prevent it from fracturing. I hope that you find this helpful.

Answer 4

It's actually not as bad as everyone tells you. It's not comfortable, but any competent dentist will keep you anesthetized enough that it's no worse than any other filling. But it just takes longer.

A root canal" means that the dentist removes the pulp of the tooth - the nerve inside it, blood vessels, and the other tissue - because it's diseased. Then he fills that with inert material, and puts a filling in the opening, or maybe a crown. It takes maybe an hour or two for this, and you may need 2-3 visits to finish everything. Your mouth will be sore afterwards, but it's not like you have an excruciating toothache throughout the procedure or afterwards. Tylenol will often be all you need.

If you're still nervous about it, go ask your dentist for details. They should be happy to give you all the information you need.

Answer 5

To properly clean, sterilize,dry and fill the canal, it will take approximately an hour. Sometime the abscessed area have to be curetted (cleaned out) for proper bone regrowth. If the tooth abscessed because of decay or break, It will have to be restored after the root canal is successfully completed. Over time teeth that have had a root canal performed become brittle and best restoration is a crown.

Answer 6

It is best not to have the root canal finished until you have had your baby as an x-ray is always needed at the conclusion of the root canal to check that it has been done well. If you are hurting now it is best to go to your dentist to have the tooth 'dressed' (medication inside tooth changed and fresh temporary seal put on top) Do the dressing when ever you are starting to have pain so it wont cause any more damage. Toothache is never any fun even if you are not pregnant!

Answer 7

Endodontic therapy will releive the pain that caused you to be referred for a root canal in the first place. Ideally you should see an endodontist who uses a microscope. The length of the procedure will depend on the severity of the case and how difficult it will be to save your tooth. A lot of endodontists will do a 2 visit root canal when there is an abcess involved. The first visit they will "open" the tooth and place medication inside, the second visit they will complete the procedure. After your tooth is completed you will need to see your general dentist for a crown.

Answer 8

It really depends on the person and the tooth. Some people breeze through root canal while others have pain.

Answer 9

No - there is no need for modern dentistry to hurt at all. If you get some pain, tell the dentists and he can top up the anaesthetic.