I'm Really Nervous About My Upcoming Root Canal

Root canals and other forms of oral surgery are the stuff of fictional comedy and terror. From Dustin Hoffman’s hapless spy undergoing an unscheduled tooth drilling in Marathon Man to the original Little Rascals dealing with The Awful Tooth, cinematic oral surgery is gory and cringey.

But, as with most scenes on the silver (and other types of) screen, the reality is far more mundane. And exceedingly less painful.

Today's root canals are virtually pain-free, thanks to options for sedation. Depending on which type of sedation you choose, your experience might even be euphoric.

Our Miracle Smile Dental team uses sedation dentistry to keep you pain-free and relaxed during your root canal. Expert dentist Nisha Modi, DMD, is committed to helping you get the oral care you need at our Aubrey, Texas, office … without pain or anxiety.

Are you nervous about your upcoming root canal? Here’s why you shouldn’t be.

Root canals save your tooth

When your dentist says you need a root canal, they want to preserve your natural tooth and its roots. Nothing — not even the highest quality dental implant — is ever quite as beautiful and functional as your natural tooth. 

Tooth decay, breaks, and cracks put your tooth at risk for total loss and extraction. Once gone, it’s gone forever. But a root canal clears any infection or decay present in your tooth.

Dr. Modi deep cleans your tooth down into the root’s canals. These are the tubes that extend from the pulp into the roots. The root canals consist of sensitive nerves and soft tissue subject to decay and infection.

By removing the infection and disinfecting the root canals, Dr. Modi allows your natural tooth to stay in place. She then fills the cleaned-out root canals and inner tooth with a rubber substance that makes it strong and more stable.

Root canals save more than your tooth

An infected tooth is not a minor matter. When your tooth is deeply decayed and infected, the bacteria can pass into your gums, jawbone, and even your bloodstream.

Ignoring a decayed or infected tooth puts all your other teeth at risk. It can also destroy your gums and jawbone and, in severe cases, cause a system-wide infection called sepsis that can be fatal.

Of course, a decayed tooth could get extracted instead of mended and sanitized with a root canal. But a root canal is a much less traumatic procedure that lets you keep your tooth.

Root canals — wait for it — do not hurt

Despite all the buzz about painful root canals, if you’ve talked to someone who’s had one lately, you quickly learn that all the fear-mongering over root canals is just hype. Depending on your needs, you don't have to feel a thing.

We offer a variety of sedation dentistry options. Not only does sedation dentistry make a root canal pain-free, but it also calms your nerves and alleviates anxiety. 

Take a chill pill

Oral sedation starts to work before you even reach the dentist’s chair. You usually come in about an hour before your appointment to take the medication. 

Once relaxed, you’re ready for us to save your tooth. You’re in a drifty, sleepy state but still conscious. Someone should drive you home afterward because you’ll be drowsy.

Bliss out

Nitrous oxide is sometimes called laughing gas for a good reason. Inhaling this odorless gas relaxes your body and mind so that you feel calm, happy, and even euphoric.

Another advantage to nitrous oxide is that it wears off quickly, so you can drive after we give you the OK. Even though you are conscious of the procedure, you may not remember it.

Take a nap

If you have extreme anxiety or if you tend to fidget in the chair, you might do best with injectable sedation. After you receive sedation, you may remain conscious but in a twilight state or drift completely off to sleep.

As with oral sedation, you need a ride home. You feel groggy for a few hours after injectable sedation. 

Don’t let nerves put your tooth and oral health in jeopardy. If you need a root canal, call us to discuss your sedation dentistry options at 469-765-3567 today or book an appointment using our convenient online scheduling tool.