What can I expect with a root canal?

[wryter2000]

I'm having my first next week. Note: I'm not asking for advice. The decision has been made. What I want to know is what kind of misery during and after the procedure can I expect? And any tips for how to deal with it.

[Chainfire]

1. They are not the dread of the old days. With a good dentist it is painless.

Don't worry about it, you will be fine.

[Jilly_in_VA]

2. If your endodontist is competent

any discomfort should be minor. You will be numbed good and proper and the main discomfort will be having your mouth wide open for a considerable period of time. I've had a few and I'm considered pretty hard to numb, so I'm telling you it's not anything like horror stories you may have been told. Any problems afterward may be some soreness at the injection sites or places where the dentist may have had to place something to help keep your mouth wide open so he can get where s/he's going. You'll probably want to avoid extremes of hot, cold, or spicy food for a day or two after if your injection sites are sore. Good luck! (I have dental phobia so please be assured I'm telling you the truth!)

[Turbineguy]

3. They give lots of novacaine.

It's a piece of cake. They've really made it much better, but the procedure has a bad reputation.

I've had 5 of them.

[bahboo]

4. anticipation is way worse than the procedure....

it's pretty easy nowadays...have had a few myself...

[Midnight Writer]

5. Mine was no problem at all, though the procedure itself was uncomfortable (but not painful)

Had it done in the evening, after hours. Was fine to go to work the next morning.

[alwaysinasnit]

6. FWIW, I've had several root canals and I've never had any problems. A bit sore day of, but

day after I'm fine. I would just eat soft foods for a day or two. I hope your procedure goes well.

[wryter2000]

21. Soft food

Good idea

[yonder]

7. My first and only was a piece of cake.

I was close to panic with dread due entirely to awful stories I had always heard. I suppose some procedures might have complications but in my case, nothing to it.

[enough]

8. These days it's no more to be feared than any other dental procedure. It might take longer,

but a competent dentist or endodontist knows exactly how to use Novocain for the situation, before the procedure and during if necessary.

[claudette]

10. Expect

lots of Novocain, no real pain during the drilling, joy when the dentist says “nerve is out” no pain now, lots of digging, temporary crown put in. Done. Some discomfort after the Novocain wears off but Ibuprofen works on that. No problem. I had 2 but hope I never have to go through such an intense procedure. Even worse than an extraction. But don’t listen to me. I have ALWAYS hated going to the dentist. LOL

[TheRealNorth]

11. If you have any discomfort in the middle of the process...

Don't be afraid to ask for another shot of novocaine (or whatever it is they use nowadays). I actually had to have it done over 2 visits, because my root structure was pretty complex and one visit wasn't enough to get it all entirely.

But otherwise, pain during the procedure isn't an issue as long as they gave you enough pain killer. Probably will have more discomfort afterwards for a few days, which can be treated with ibuprofen or a acetominophen.

[claudette]

13. Before starting

any procedure, my dentist always says “raise your hand if you feel pain.” I ❣️him for that!!😊

[wryter2000]

22. My dentist is very good about pain control

[NewHendoLib]

12. No big deal. The only weird part is when you can feel them

Cleaning out the infected root. Not a pain...just a unique sensation!

[claudette]

14. That's the digging part

No pain. Just pressure

[Jirel]

15. From a great dentist? Almost nothing.

It all depends on how good your dentist is. Mine is ex-military, used to working in battlefield conditions, and a former professor, so he is HELLA fast and good. He numbs you up so hard that half your face will be numb for the rest of the day, and is in and out with no pain and as fast as a basic filling. The only irritating part is doing a temporary casting for the fake tooth - nasty tasting, drooly, and may take more than one try. Afterward, he usually gives me an RX for 5 hydrocodone. I’ve only ever needed 1/2 of one, the time he was training a new assistant so there had been a bit more fumbling. The other 2, I had no appreciable pain afterward. Finally, you have to come back for your permanent fake tooth when it’s ready. Easy-peasy, and quick.

Mileage may vary depending on the dentist, of course. If an oral surgeon is doing it, chances are it’ll be a lot like my dentist. If it’s a regular dentist, you may have technique from crappy and slow, to excellent, with a lot more variability.

[MOMFUDSKI]

16. I have had quite a few and

no pain at all. The only thing that did happen to me once was a heart-pounding episode that scared me a lot. Thought I was having a heart attack. Dentist and nurse said nothing although they could see veins in my neck pounding. Talked to neighbor nurse later that day and she said the novocaine contains epinephrine and a big dose can cause that. Only last a minute or two. Why don't the dentists tell you it MAY happen and then you could ride it out. A good doc years ago froze my upper arm to remove a skin cancer and did forewarn me but that was after the endodontist fiasco. You have your good docs and you have the others . . . You will be fine. And let your dentist know you are aware of the epinephrine and what could possibly happen.

[Warpy]

17. A friend said his hurt for maybe a nanosecond

Getting the temporary and permanent crowns to seat properly seems to be the fiddly bit.

[phylny]

18. I've had several done and my dentists have been superb.

No pain. Good luck!

[wryter2000]

19. Thank you all!

I feel totally reassured now!

[twodogsbarking]

20. Relief. Really.

[womanofthehills]

23. I had a root canal on a one root tooth yesterday

My dentist is into Lazar dentistry. Once my mouth was numb, he did the root canal in 5 minutes - bunch of flashing lights. Definitely not like yrs ago. No pain at all.