Here's How Your Dentist Will Ensure You Have A Pain-Free Root Canal

Many people feel some anxiety at the notion of going in to have a root canal performed on a tooth. While it's natural to feel a little nervous, you shouldn't worry too much about any pain that you'll be experiencing. Your dentist has the skills and technology available to ensure that you don't feel any pain at all. Here are three of the ways your dentist can achieve this.

Topical

One of the first things your dentist is likely to use is a topical pain reliever. This topical product is simply put over the gums, where it starts to numb the surface. This is a stronger version of similar topical pain relievers sold on the market, like Orajel.

After the topical pain reliever has been on your gums for some time, your dentist will move on to other methods of pain relief to ensure that you don't feel anything.

Injected

The next step your dentist will likely use is an injection of Novocaine. This pain relieving medication will completely numb the area that it's injected into — in this case, your gums and the root of your tooth.

If you've ever had any dental work done, including wisdom tooth extraction, you've likely experienced Novocaine. While this medication does need to be injected, it's worth pointing out that with topical pain relief and a skilled dentist, you still shouldn't feel anything. Your dentist will move the needle slowly and gradually to inject medication as they go, ensuring that the tissues become numbed before they're pierced by the needle.

Nerve Block

In most cases, a topical and injected set of pain relievers is enough to ensure that you don't feel a thing. However, in severe situations, one more method is at your dentist's disposal: a nerve block.

A nerve block is essentially what it sounds like. Your dentist uses a precisely oriented needle to cut off the signal being sent through the nerves in your gums and teeth. This allows them to do their work without you perceiving any pain at all. Once the procedure is complete, the needle is removed and standard feeling is restored.

Nerve blocks are usually only performed for extreme pain scenarios, but since root canals deal with severely damaged and infected teeth, it is a possibility. If you have questions about this procedure, be sure to ask your dentist.

Having a root canal doesn't have to be painful, so you don't need to be afraid of being in discomfort in the dentist's chair. If you have additional questions, make sure to ask your dentist instead of worrying in silence.