Do root canals hurt?

Without anesthesia, root canals usually cause pain. The infected, decayed tooth that causes the need for a root canal is often extremely sensitive to touch.

Once the root canal is completed, under topical and local anesthesia, the pain is usually alleviated. With proper anesthesia, patients do not feel pain during the procedure, because the tooth and the surrounding area are completely numbed. Once the anesthesia wears off, patients may feel some pressure.

Root canals can be beneficial for patients who have severe tooth decay or infection, because the procedure allows them to keep decayed teeth rather than having them extracted.