My first root canal

[PolishPython]

Well I'm counting down the hours which will be 4 until my first root canal on my number 4 or 5 tooth. I an as nervous as can be and the only reason why is because my dad had a root canal done maybe 10 years ago and he had a seizure in the chair there. The only thing that's keeping me somewhat calm is the fact that 6 months ago I had my #30 molar pulled and I don't see a root canal hurting more than that. Feel free to add some positive advice. No root canal horror stories lol

[eracer]

I had two done in one day. Getting the needle was the worst part. No pain, no swelling.

No big deal.

[Freakie_frog]

I've had to have two done due to a car wreck. Once they get you numb its no more painful than a cleaning. My dentist lets me stick my headphone in with he works really helps pass the time..

P.S. your jaw will be sore from holding it open for 45minutes to an hour..

[shelliebear]

I;m 18, have had three done, all on big molars.
If you have an abscess, they usually drain it a few days before the procedure, which is what causes the pain most people fear of a root canal.
If you don't have an abscess, however, it's smooth sailing. Shots aren't too bad, especially not for molars (front teeth are the worst, in my opinion), and once you're numb, it takes like 1 1/2 hours or 2 hours to finish the procedure. You won't feel a thing, and afterwards your tooth will feel better since they remove the nerve tissue.
The whole process is pretty much like this:
Drill into your tooth...doc comes by and takes a little metal flexible rod and pokes it down into your tooth canal, pulls out pulp and infection, cleans it out, puts some paste in it, fills it with gutta percha, they slap the crown on, you're all done.
Very little to no pain afterwards--only pain you might have is from them stretching your gum a bit for the crown, and Advil will take that right away. Your tooth is essentially dead to pain after a root canal so pain is gone.
Not bad at all. I think I'd rather a root canal than fillings, fillings are so sensitive afterwards and painful.
Don't worry about a thing! You'll be fine. Getting any laughing gas? Sometimes I got it, sometimes I didn't--it always helps though. But you'll be absolutely fine!
Shellie

[JamieH]

ive had 4 done one 1 tooth over the course of 8 years.

huge waste of money, I dont even have tht damn thing anymore. lol.

[mpkeelee]

I've never had one but my wife has and it didn't even seem to bother her. You said your dad had one 10 yrs ago, the medical world has improved since then so I wouldn't worry. It's all mental. Just go and get it done. We usually make things sound worse than they really are.

[PolishPython]

I am numb right now as I type .... Thanks everyone my hands are shaking while I type. Lol here goes nothing

[PolishPython]

DEF wasnt as bad as I thought

[Freakie_frog]

DEF wasnt as bad as I thought

See Modern pain killers are wonderful

[gardenfiend138]

I'm glad it went well for you! Mine was so much more painful than I could have imagined... might have not numbed it enough, but I could feel them drilling our the nerve the wholeeeee time. If you've seen 127 hours (or however many hours it was...), that sound they play when he's severing the nerve in his arm, it feels like that