Root Canal Treatment (Pulpitis): Why It Hurts and How We Treat It Painlessly

Pulpitis is inflammation of the nerve inside the tooth, and it is what gives that throbbing pain that worsens at night and with heat. It does not pass on its own: without treatment the nerve dies and the inflammation moves to the bone. The good news is that the tooth can almost always be saved — the only thing that matters is not to delay. Here is why it hurts and how we treat canals painlessly.

What pulpitis is and why it hurts

Inside the tooth there is the pulp — a bundle of vessels and nerves, the everyday “nerve”. When decay reaches it, it becomes inflamed. The pulp is sealed inside the hard walls of the tooth, so the swelling presses on the nerve — hence the character of the pain:

the pain is throbbing and strong; worsens at night, when you lie down; radiates to the ear, temple and neighbouring teeth, so it is hard to tell which tooth actually hurts; a prolonged reaction to heat, while cold sometimes even eases it. This is the classic picture by which a doctor recognises pulpitis almost at once.

Will it pass on its own

No. Even if the pain has eased, that is not recovery but the death of the nerve: the inflammation has not gone anywhere and moves beyond the root apex — into periodontitis, and then a gumboil or cyst becomes possible. The longer you delay, the smaller the chance of saving the tooth the simple way and the more expensive the treatment. So throbbing pain is a signal to treat now, while root canals alone are enough and removal is not needed.

How we treat the canals

Root canal treatment (endodontics) means removing the inflamed nerve, cleaning and sealing the canals so the infection does not return. At Houston we do this only under a microscope: the canals are very thin and curved, and magnification lets us find all of them and treat them right to the apex, missing nothing. More on the method is in the article dental treatment under a microscope.

In how many visits

Often a tooth is treated in 1–2 visits. Complex cases — curved or previously poorly treated canals, multi-rooted molars, inflammation near the apex — may take more time, with a temporary medicated material left in the canals. The doctor draws up the exact plan after an image.

Does it hurt

No. Treatment is done under local anaesthesia, and inside a tooth that is “dead” after numbing you feel nothing. Modern root canal treatment removes pain rather than adding it — most patients note after the very first visit that they have finally slept properly.

What it costs

The cost depends on the number of canals in the tooth: a single-rooted tooth from UAH 6,600, a two-rooted one from UAH 8,500, a molar with 3–4 canals from UAH 11,500. The price includes work under the microscope and filling the canals; restoring the crown part of the tooth afterwards is counted separately. A consultation is from UAH 590. All items are on the page endodontics.

Is it normal for it to hurt after treatment

Mild discomfort on biting for a few days after root canal treatment is a normal response of the tissues near the root apex, and it gradually passes. But severe, growing pain, swelling or a fever are a reason to go back to the doctor, not to endure it. If the tooth keeps hurting sharply, it is better to call than to wait.

Frequently asked questions