Tooth Pain and Root Canal Therapy

Root Canal Therapy does not have to hurt.  This procedure has a bad reputation for two reasons:  1) People frequently wait too long after tooth pain begins before they seek treatment and 2) Many dentists don't perform root canal therapy particularly well.  Conversely, if root canal therapy is initiated before, or at the onset of, pain then it can be expected to be relatively pain free.

The Center for Special Dentistry® (CSD) has several Endodontists (Root Canal Specialists) on staff to treat our patients.  Root Canal Therapy is usually completed in one office visit in under an hour.  Patients should ask to see the final x-ray following root canal therapy to learn to differentiate good root canal therapy from one that will likely need retreatment later.  It's better to get something done right the first time.

Root canal therapy is NOT painful when properly performed in a tooth that has not yet reached the point of becoming a painful emergency AND when it is performed well by a CSD Endodontist.  Some people mistakenly wait until they have severe pain before seeking root canal therapy.  They are the cause of the pain, not the procedure itself.  An important lesson is therefore to contact us now for root canal therapy if you think a tooth is becoming more painful; don't wait for the emergency.