Endodontist Dr. Jamie Ring has performed numerous root canal treatments over the course of his career. Dr. Jamie Ring draws on an in-depth knowledge of both procedural techniques and methods for increasing patient comfort during the procedure.

1. PAIN CONTROL FOR
ROOT CANAL
THERAPY
Dr. Jamie Ring

2. Introduction
 Endodontist Dr. Jamie Ring has performed numerous root
canal treatments over the course of his career. Dr. Jamie
Ring draws on an in-depth knowledge of both procedural
techniques and methods for increasing patient comfort during
the procedure.
Despite the reputation that the procedure has developed, a
root canal is typically no more painful than a routine filling. In
fact, if the endodontist has numbed the patient correctly, it
should be entirely painless after the initial injection of local
anesthetic. It is important to note, however, that an acute
abscess may alter the effectiveness of the anesthetic.
An acute abscess stems from an infection at the root of the
tooth. It not only causes redness, heat, and pain but makes
the tissue increasingly acidic.

3. Root Canal Therapy
 The higher acidity level causes the nerve fibers to
absorb the anesthetic more slowly and may make
the same amount of anesthetic less effective.
Additional anesthetic most often corrects this
imbalance and numbs the tooth properly, although
severe cases of infection may require a nerve
block, in-bone anesthesia, or other advanced
techniques. An experienced and sensitive dentist
will always check with patients to ensure they feel
properly anesthetized before beginning the
procedure, just as patients should feel free to
communicate with the dentist if they feel that the
anesthetic is not taking effect or is wearing off.