Root Canal Treatment: Everything You Were Afraid to Ask

The Biggest Myth About Root Canals

'Root canals are painful.' This is the most persistent myth in dentistry — and it couldn't be further from the truth. The truth: a root canal RELIEVES pain. The procedure itself, done under local anesthesia, is no more uncomfortable than getting a filling.

Why Do You Need a Root Canal?

Inside every tooth is a soft tissue called the dental pulp — containing nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. When bacteria breach the outer layers of a tooth through a deep cavity, crack, or trauma, they infect the pulp.

Symptoms that may indicate pulp infection:

• Severe, persistent toothache
• Sharp pain when biting or chewing
• Prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold (lasting minutes, not seconds)
• Darkening of the tooth
• Swelling or tenderness in the gum near the tooth

What Happens Step-by-Step During RCT?

Step 1 — Anesthesia

The area around the tooth is numbed with a small injection. Within 2 minutes, the tooth and surrounding gum are completely numb. You will feel pressure during the procedure — but zero pain.

Step 2 — Pulp Removal

Using tiny, flexible instruments called rotary files, the infected pulp is removed from all canals. The canals are simultaneously shaped and measured to their exact lengths using an electronic apex locator for precision.

Step 3 — Canal Filling (Obturation)

Once perfectly clean and shaped, the canals are filled with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha and sealed with cement. This permanently seals the canals from future infection.

Crown After RCT — Is It Mandatory?

After RCT, the tooth loses its blood supply and becomes brittle over time. A crown protects it from fractures. Without a crown, a root-canal-treated tooth has 6x higher risk of breaking. We strongly recommend a crown within 2 weeks of RCT completion.