Does the pain stop immediately after a root canal?

Generally: It depends on the procedure used, however generally the pain is gone, except there may be some sensitivity for a day or two.

Often: Each case is different depending upon the specific conditions within the nerve canals and the surrounding tissues. It's very common to be in extreme pain prior to root canal therapy and then get immediate relief after the first visit. Sometimes there is mild to moderate discomfort following the procedure but is usually of short duration and easily handled with pain medication.

Sometimes: Research shows that the amount of post- op pain is directly proportional to the amount of pre- op pain. It also depends on the amount of infection, how many roots were treated, the degree of complexity of the canals, the root length, if an abscess is present, proximity of the root end to jaw nerves, and several other factors. We tell every patient what to expect after their particular root canal!

Pain and root canals: If you had pain before the root canal, chances are that the pain will still be there after the root canal. Also, inflammation peaks at 48 hours after a procedure, and typically after that period of time, you will begin to experience more relief.