When people hear the words, “root canal,” the scenario that often comes to mind is that of a painful dental procedure that costs too much money. But those popularly held misconceptions are just that: misconceptions. In fact, the only pain you should be thinking about when your dentist recommends a root canal is the pain that is, or will be, caused by the infection in your tooth.
Your root canal will involve the use of a local anesthetic that numbs the area around the tooth, and the tooth itself. Dentists can even offer a calming medicine, like nitrous oxide, to ensure the experience is as painless as possible. You don’t need to buy into the stereotype that a root canal has to be an extremely painful experience.
A root canal is an excellent solution for those who want to save their teeth. More good news is that you should not assume the affected tooth will have to be extracted in the future. The vast majority of root canal treatments are terrific successes that are pain-free.
