Best root canal treatment in 200 Feet Radial Road How painful is a root canal? The pain linked to root canals stems from the infection of the nerves deep within the tooth, so you typically arrive to our office with pain. The actual procedure to remove the damaged pulp of your tooth is not painful. In fact, to guarantee minimal discomfort, the first step of the root canal therapy is the application of a local anesthetic to numb the area and prevent pain.