{"id":133,"date":"2026-06-09T11:23:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T11:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/?p=133"},"modified":"2026-06-10T23:24:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T23:24:04","slug":"are-root-canals-painful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allsmileslacrosse.com\/blog\/are-root-canals-painful\/","title":{"rendered":"The Root of the Matter: Are Root Canals Painful?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you keep up with pop culture, you could easily see a root canal<\/a> as something scary. Many films and shows depict this treatment as uncomfortable, so much so that just enduring it is hard. All that said, are root canals painful like modern media suggests? The short (but accurate) answer to this question is a solid “No!” As for the longer one, let your local La Crosse dentist provide it for you below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Root Canals are Pain-Free<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite their depictions in media, root canals don\u2019t actually hurt. The work they do to save your teeth is (or should be) painless and free of discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that a root canal\u2019s goal is to relieve your tooth\u2019s pain. By removing the infected pulp tissue, it rids you of the nerves that make your mouth ache. The treatment often follows this removal by placing a filling and crown, thus ensuring the treatment site doesn\u2019t suffer more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps more importantly, a dentist will always numb your tooth before doing a root canal. This measure stops you from feeling pain as the dental team drills into the treatment site. At most, you\u2019ll only sense some pressure as the procedure proceeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aches Only Occur After Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you do feel any pain, it\u2019ll only occur after your root canal is over. (The treatment\u2019s anesthetic will eventually wear off, after all.) This discomfort (when present) can persist for a while as you heal and recover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any lingering aches should fade within a few days, and the soreness itself shouldn\u2019t be intense. That said, do contact your dentist if the pain continues (or worsens) after two or three days. You may be suffering treatment complications in those scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing Aches After a Root Canal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of course, you can also manage your post-care aches as you wait for them to end. All you need to do is the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n