Root canal pain is well-known as some of the most excruciating pain a person can experience. It is also known for striking at the most inconvenient times. I have performed many emergency root canal treatments the very day someone was planning to leave for a long-planned vacation or go on an exotic cruise.

I can't really explain why root canal pain hits when it does. But I can explain why it occurs and what you can do to alleviate it.

The first thing I need to do is differentiate between two types of root canal pain. First, there is pain that is experienced which indicates that treatment is required. Second, there is pain that can be experienced after root canal therapy has been performed.

In this article I will discuss this first type of dental pain. This is the classic severe toothache that can wake you up in the middle of the night or start as a dull ache after eating a meal.

I hope that after understanding the nature of your toothache you will not be fearful about saving your tooth with what is really a simple dental procedure, root canal treatment.

Most people find it hard to believe that a small, white, piece of dental enamel can make their whole head or even their whole body ache so severely. The answer to this lies in understanding the anatomy of your tooth.

You are familiar with the hard, outer surface of your tooth known as the enamel. This is what you brush everyday and use to chew foods of varying hardness with no problems.

Lying just beneath this hard tooth structure is the hard dental structure known as the dentin. Beneath this hard enamel and dentin is a small piece of soft tissue known as the dental pulp. This tissue contains blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerve tissue. It is best known for the nerve tissue and is often called the nerve of the tooth.

The dental pulp is like soft tissue found throughout your body in that it has the potential to be injured and become inflamed. We all know that swelling accompanies inflammation. The problem with inflammation of the dental pulp is that it cannot swell when it becomes inflamed because it is encased within the hard structures of your tooth.

This causes an extreme buildup of pressure within your tooth putting pressure on nerve fibers. The result is a severe toothache.

Does every tooth with pulp inflammation require dental treatment for relief? No, the dental pulp does have some healing capacity. Dentists refer to reversible pulp inflammation for those teeth that will eventually heal and become comfortable again. You may have experienced this after having a new dental filling placed. Once the dental anesthetic wears off you notice that your tooth is sensitive to cold and maybe sore to chew on for a couple of days.

This is due to mild inflammation inside your tooth. It gradually improves and your tooth feels normal again. However, it is irreversible inflammation that causes most severe toothaches.

Does irreversible pulp inflammation always require dental treatment? Yes, in this case there is no hope that the pulp will heal and return to its normal and healthy state. Essentially what is happening is that the pulp is losing its vitality and "dying." Once there is no vitality to this tissue we say that pulp necrosis has occurred and the pulp is necrotic.

How is irreversible pulp inflammation or pulpal necrosis treated? The irreversibly inflamed or necrotic pulp must be removed from within your tooth. This is the only way to permanently get rid of pain and avoid future occurrences of pain or swelling.

How is the dental pulp removed? There are two options to get the pulp out of your tooth: tooth removal or root canal treatment. Many people experiencing root canal pain are so frustrated they just want the offending tooth removed. What they don't realize is that this will cause problems in the future. In fact it is possible that you will spend more money and time in your dentist's office if you have the tooth removed.

But don't root canals hurt? Root canals are often performed on very inflamed or infected teeth that are already hurting. This pain will be relieved with a root canal treatment. It isn't however, a magic bullet. A tooth that is already hurting will require a little time before it returns to its comfortable state. If you will work with your dentist you will be thankful in years to come that you saved your tooth.

What do I need to do before I have my root canal? Before you have a root canal you need to become as knowledgeable as possible. In over twenty years as an endodontist (root canal specialist) I've answered many questions asked by nervous root canal patients. In The Relaxed Root Canal I answer over 80 root canal questions that are commonly asked.

In chapter 11 I discuss the one home remedy for root canal pain that you should not try. It will make your pain and swelling worse.

In chapter 5 you will learn the one question you should ask your dentist BEFORE you have your root canal treatment.

You'll even learn some practical tips on how you can have a relaxed root canal experience. Learn more at Root Canal Pain.