Dental Care

Root Canal Treatment: What to Expect and Does It Hurt?

By the Noir Aesthetics team September 22, 2026 7 min read

Root canal treatment removes infected or inflamed tissue from inside a tooth, cleans and seals the canals, and allows you to keep your natural tooth. It is carried out under local anaesthetic, so many people find it feels much like having a filling. The aim is to relieve pain, not cause it.

If you have been told you need one, feeling anxious is normal. Knowing what happens at each stage, and why, usually eases much of the worry.

What is root canal treatment and why is it needed?

Inside every tooth, beneath the enamel and dentine, is the pulp: soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels that runs down through narrow channels in the roots. When deep decay, a crack, a knock to the tooth or repeated dental work lets bacteria reach the pulp, it can become inflamed or infected.

Once that happens, the pulp generally cannot recover on its own. Left untreated, infection can spread to the bone around the root tip and form an abscess. Root canal treatment removes the damaged pulp, disinfects the inside of the tooth and seals it, so the tooth can stay in place and keep working.

What are the warning signs?

Symptoms vary, and some infected teeth cause no pain at all and are only spotted on an X-ray. Signs worth booking an examination for include:

sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers after the food or drink has gone, rather than a brief twinge
pain when biting or chewing, or a tooth that feels tender to touch
a throbbing ache that comes on by itself or wakes you at night
swelling or tenderness in the gum near one tooth
a tooth that has gradually turned darker than its neighbours
a small pimple-like bump on the gum, which may leak fluid or leave a bad taste

In Lahore’s summer heat, it is often a glass of iced water that first reveals a problem tooth. If the ache lingers, mention it to your dentist.

Seek urgent care the same day if you notice swelling spreading across your face or jaw, a fever, or difficulty swallowing, opening your mouth or breathing. These can be signs that an infection is spreading, so go to a hospital emergency department if you cannot be seen promptly.

What happens during a root canal?

Assessment: your dentist examines the tooth and usually takes an X-ray to see the shape of the roots and the extent of any infection.
Local anaesthetic: the tooth and surrounding area are numbed. You may feel pressure and vibration, but you should not feel sharp pain.
Access: a small opening is made through the top of the tooth to reach the pulp chamber.
Cleaning and shaping: the inflamed or infected pulp is removed, and each canal is cleaned with fine instruments, rinsed with disinfecting solutions and shaped so it can be filled.
Filling the canals: the cleaned canals are filled and sealed with a rubber-like material to stop bacteria getting back in.
Sealing the tooth: the opening is closed with a filling, and a crown is often recommended afterwards, especially on back teeth.

One visit or more?

Some teeth can be treated in a single appointment; others need two or more. It depends on how many canals the tooth has (front teeth often have one, molars several), how curved or narrow they are, and how much infection is present. If more than one visit is needed, medication is usually placed inside the tooth under a temporary filling in between.

Does root canal treatment hurt?

The reputation is worse than the reality. The severe pain people associate with root canals usually comes from the infection itself, before treatment begins. With modern local anaesthetic, many people find the procedure comfortable, if a little long. If you feel anything sharp, tell your dentist, as more anaesthetic can be given.

Some tenderness for a few days afterwards is normal, particularly when biting, while the tissues around the root settle. Over-the-counter pain relief, taken as your dentist advises, usually manages it. Contact the studio if the pain gets worse rather than better, swelling appears, or your bite feels high on the treated tooth.

Root canal or extraction: should you keep the tooth?

Extraction can look quicker and cheaper at first. But a missing tooth leaves a gap that can let neighbouring teeth drift and change your bite, and replacing it later usually takes more time and money than saving it. A natural tooth, kept healthy, also keeps its own root and the bone around it.

That said, not every tooth can be saved. A deep vertical crack, too little remaining tooth structure or advanced gum disease can make root canal treatment unlikely to succeed. In those cases, removing the tooth and planning a replacement such as a dental implant may be the wiser long-term decision. Our comparison of implants, bridges and dentures sets out the trade-offs, and your dentist will tell you honestly which applies to you.

Aftercare, crowns and cost

Why a crown is often recommended

A tooth that needs root canal treatment has often already lost structure to decay, and the access opening removes a little more. Back teeth in particular take heavy chewing forces and can become more prone to cracking. A crown covers and protects what remains. Our dental menu includes porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) and zirconia crowns, and your dentist will advise which suits the tooth’s position and your bite.

Looking after the tooth

Avoid eating until the numbness wears off, so you do not bite your cheek or tongue.
Chew on the other side until the final filling or crown is in place, as a temporarily restored tooth is more vulnerable.
Keep brushing and cleaning between your teeth as normal, because a treated tooth can still decay and its gum can still become inflamed.
Attend your follow-up and crown appointments, since delaying the crown leaves the tooth at greater risk of fracture.

What affects the cost?

Cost depends mainly on which tooth is involved, since molars have more canals and take longer than front teeth, how complex the canals are, whether more than one visit is needed, and whether a crown is added. You can check current rates for root canal treatment and crowns on our live price list, and your dentist will confirm the full cost after examining you.

Frequently asked questions

Can antibiotics fix the tooth instead?

Not on their own. Antibiotics may be prescribed when an infection is spreading or you are unwell, but they cannot reach and remove the infected tissue inside the tooth, so symptoms tend to return. The source of the infection still needs to be dealt with, either by root canal treatment or by extraction. Your dentist will advise whether antibiotics are needed at all in your case.

Is a root-canal-treated tooth dead?

The nerve and blood supply inside it have been removed, so it will no longer feel hot or cold. But the tooth stays firmly in the jaw, held by the tissues around its root, and can still sense pressure when you bite. It can also still decay or develop gum problems, so it needs the same brushing, cleaning and check-ups as any other tooth.

Can I go back to work after a root canal?

Most people return to work or their normal routine the same day. The numbness usually wears off within a few hours, and you should wait until it has before eating. Some tenderness is common for a few days. If you have a demanding day ahead, try to book the appointment for a time when you can take things easy afterwards.

How long does a root-canal-treated tooth last?

With a good seal, a well-fitted crown where needed and sensible oral hygiene, a treated tooth can keep working for many years. How long depends on how much natural structure remained, how well it was restored and how you look after it. Regular check-ups let your dentist spot any problems early, while they are still easier to manage.

If a tooth has been aching, lingering with sensitivity or looking darker than its neighbours, it is worth having it checked sooner rather than later. Your first dental consultation is complimentary, so book an appointment at our studio in DHA Phase 6, Lahore and we will examine the tooth and explain your options clearly before any treatment begins.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a personal consultation. Every face, smile and scalp is different — your practitioner will advise on what is right for you.

Book an Appointment ← Back to Blog