I’m Nervous About My Upcoming Root Canal

You’ve likely heard about root canals your entire life, and there’s a good chance you associate them with fear and pain — even if you’ve never had one before.

What if the opposite was true? What if a root canal wasn’t a cause for nervousness but seen as a routine, pain-free dental procedure that can accomplish a lot of good in little time?

That’s how the dental experts here at Smile Design Manhattan view root canals. At our office in the Midtown West neighborhood of New York City, we can solve your dental problem and have you back to normal in just a few days.

What’s a root canal?

A root canal is a procedure dentists use to clean out damaged, diseased, or infected portions of a tooth that may cause inflammation, sensitivity, and pain. These symptoms occur when decay spreads throughout the tooth, usually in the pulp and root of the tooth.

During a root canal, your dentist removes the infected pulp and root from the tooth and fills the space with a special cement to strengthen the tooth. Depending on the damage, you may need a crown to cover and strengthen your tooth.

Root canals of old would cause much more pain for patients, but dental technology has improved. The pain of a root canal is minimized or often nonexistent.

Strategies to reduce nervousness

Our experienced team knows that many patients are nervous about a root canal, so we’ve mastered strategies to prevent pain. 

Removing the pulp from the tooth requires us to drill a hole in the tooth. Before this happens, we use a pain-free technique to administer a local anesthetic that keeps you from feeling anything throughout the procedure. 

You can also calm your nerves through meditation, relaxation techniques, and breath work. These techniques can help your body calm down when you feel anxious. If you’re not sure where to get started, try an app such as Calm or Headspace.

Sedation dentistry

If your nervousness is more severe, ask the team about sedation dentistry. This option involves using medication to calm your body and your nerves. Your dentist may offer inhaled, oral, or intravenous (IV) sedation.

If you’re interested in sedation dentistry, ask us about it ahead of time so the team can plan for your visit.

The Smile Design Manhattan team works hard to make sure root canals are pain-free, so don’t let nervousness keep you from getting the help you need. Call our office today to schedule a root canal consultation, or book your appointment online.