If your tooth is in pain due to an infection, your dentist may recommend a root canal treatment to help you find relief. But what if the discomfort suddenly stops? It can be tempting to think that your problems are over, but is that really the case? Here’s a brief look at what it means when tooth pain disappears and whether a root canal treatment is still necessary.
Why Would a Toothache Stop on Its Own?
Unfortunately, the sudden lack of pain in your tooth likely isn’t the good news you think it is. Oftentimes, it’s a sign that the infection has damaged the nerves in the pulp to the point where they can’t transmit pain signals to the brain anymore. And while your discomfort might be gone, the infection is still there, and it will only continue to grow worse if it remains unaddressed. As such, having a root canal treatment performed is still necessary to protect your oral and overall health.
What is the Purpose of Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal treatment is a procedure where infected or damaged pulp is taken out of your tooth. The pulp is a collection of connective tissue, nerves, and blood vessels; if it becomes infected, it can cause significant pain. By removing the pulp via root canal treatment, your dentist can stop your pain and prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the mouth.
What Will Happen During Your Root Canal Treatment?
During your root canal treatment, your dentist will create a small opening in your tooth in order to access the inner pulp chamber. They will then use special instruments to carefully remove the pulp. After that, the inside of the tooth will be cleaned to make sure that no harmful bacteria remain. Once the cleaning process is complete, the tooth will be filled with a special substance known as gutta-percha. Since the tooth will be weakened after the treatment, a crown will likely need to be placed to strengthen and protect it.
Is Root Canal Treatment Painful?
Root canal treatment has a reputation for being painful, but this is not actually true. At the start of the procedure, your mouth will be numbed with a local anesthetic. As a result, you won’t experience any discomfort during the treatment. Once the local anesthetic wears off, there may be some soreness, but you should be able to manage it with over-the-counter pain medication.
In short, even if your tooth pain has stopped on its own, it’s still important to have a root canal treatment performed as soon as you can. Regardless of whether it’s causing any discomfort, the infection in your tooth needs to be addressed by an expert in order to get your oral health back on track.
About the Author
Dr. Andrew R. Glynn earned his dental degree at The Ohio State University. Throughout his career, he has completed continuing education courses on a wide range of subjects, including root canals and digital dentistry. At Glynn Dental of Reynoldsburg, he offers a full menu of services that includes gentle root canal treatments. If you think you are suffering from an infected or painful tooth, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Glynn by visiting his website or calling (614) 864-4618.