When you get a root canal do they prescribed you pain meds?

Answer 1

Most likely a drug such as ibupropen or naproxen as the most pain you will have after the procedure will be inflammation if the therapy is done properly. Granted the inflammation especially if it involves either of the ligaments can be either mild to excruciating pain when biting pressure is applied to the tooth but a dental professional will not allow this hyperocclusion to take place as they will minimize the crown so it does not touch the contact tooth/teeth on the dentition.

I have had 4 root canal therapies done in 3 weeks and narcotic pain relief really wasnt needed for the teeth that were opened. Several were 4 canal molars and a canal was missed in each tooth upon initial treatment and pain relievers still were not needed.

Due to opiate abuse in the mainstream they wont just hand these drugs out unless they are truly needed.

Answer

Depends on the doctor and the patient. Some doctors are more liberal about prescribing pain meds, while others have been frightened and intimidated into almost never prescribing them (there's been a HUGE backlash against over-prescribing pain meds, and now things have gone to the opposite extreme, where it's extremely difficult to get them).

It also depends on the patient. Some might not be in too much pain, while others will be in agony. Personally, my root canal was one of the most painful experiences of my life (the other was dislocating/fracturing my shoulder recently, though the broken arm I had in 2005 is a close runner-up) and I needed opiates. The doctor actually didn't prescribe any at first, just sent me home telling me to take Advil.

Then I called him the next day, literally screaming in pain -- honestly, the pain was so bad that I could barely think straight enough to dial the number and speak -- so I rushed back in a taxi and he gave me a Vicodin prescription. After that, the pain was perfectly manageable.