Readers Respond: Your Root Canal Therapy Stories - Good, Bad, or Just Plain Ugly?

A survey conducted by the American Association for Endodontists revealed that root canal therapy is perhaps the most feared dental procedure. However, most people that have had a root canal therapy preformed by a specialist admit their experience was a positive one; one-third admit their fears of the dentist are based on someone else's experiences -- not a personal one.

What was your experience with root canal therapy?

Want to get it done and over with

I go for my first root canal in a couple days. I have a great dentist with awesome assistants (I've been to the dentist ALOT in the past year...trying to get my teeth good for invisalign) After reading reviews I know I want to eat a huge meal, pop alot of excedrin, and charge my iPod before the appointment lol. Not very scared.

—Guest Just Me

Don't get a root canal

Get the darn tooth pulled you will end up having years of health problems and infection if you get a root canal

—Guest Ali 8

Root Canal

The last root canal I had was a horrifying experience. I am a person whose mouth does not stay numb no matter how much Novocaine I get. After 5 shots my mouth was still not numb so 2 dental assistants held me down while the endodontist worked. It was barbaric. I couldn't wait to ge out of there. Next week, I have to have 2 root canals at once. Why don't I have the teeth pulled, you ask. I want to go to my grave with all of my teeth. After the last experience I have opted for sedation. Just knock me out and wake me when it's over!

—Guest Mary

Xanax is the bomb!

To begin: two years ago I had all of my metal fillings replaced with composite and had a crown placed. It was done under IV sedation and took a total of nine hours. Since then the crowned tooth has been very sensitive and I couldn't chew on that side. Finally the pain spread to other teeth, up my jaw and into my ear. I developed an abscess and needed a root canal. After a week on antibiotics, I went yesterday for the root canal. I took the prescribed xanax an hour before, took a taxi to the office, and had a practically pain and anxiety free experience. The only pain was at the very end. The abscess had created small voids in the bone just under the roots. When those areas were filled with antibiotic material it hurt briefly, and I am still sore, but nothing like it was before. A temporary filling was put in, and next week I go back to have that stuff taken out and a new filling put in. I am the queen of dental chickens, so if I can do it, you can to! Ask for xanax!

—Guest Bethie the wimp

Root Canal

Dentist said I had decay under my upper molar which had a deep filling. So went to specialist. He found an infection. Got that clear up and went back in a week to do the root canal.Went back to the dentist so he could put crown but after taking another x-ray and examining the work gave me three options. 1)extraction of the upper molar and implant. 2)extraction and ask orthodonist if can bring down molar before bad molar to be able to use it. I'm in the process now to see if I can get another opinion from a dentist to see if it's worth it keeping my tooth than extracting it. My dentist said this molar is poor and does not feel good to put a crown on in for in a couple of years would have to go through again. I'm getting a second opinion but does anyone have some suggestions or advice? I think I want to save my tooth and when I told my dentist that I heard it's better to save your teeth if you can he said that was a thinking of the 80's.

—Etzitzis

Root Canal

I'm nervous and scare just to think about root canal next week..after reading everyone experience it scare me seriously..but I have to get it done though..pls help me to calm down =(

—Guest Guest 40

dont worry!

I had a root canal a week ago. Only pain was the first couple shots, but nothing bad! No pain at all during the procedure. Don't go to your dentist, go to an endodontist! They're experts with root canals! No biggie at all. Don't delay in getting a root canal, time will only cause pain and possible need of getting the tooth extracted which will cause your teeth to shift and cause gaps between all your other teeth. Just go to a specialist and you're good. No worries!!!

—Guest bestrootcanal

pain on day 4

Still have pain on day 4, enough that I missed work and am taking Vicodin... Everyone is different, next time I'll have the tooth pulled.

—Guest jg123456

panic

I need root canal because the dentist remove my old filling; because I had small cavity. He went really deep and damage my nerve. I am very unhappy; don't know what to do.

—Guest mari

nothing to be worried about.

I just had my first root canal today and it was a piece of cake. Didn't feel a thing the whole time! Now it's about 2 hours later, the Novocaine has worn off and I'm in no pain at all! my jaw is just a little sore from keeping it open for so long. The things they put in your mouth are a little uncomfortable but with me being a person who has an anxiety disorder it went very smoothly.

—Guest sam

REGRET

Prior to my root canal I had an infection. My dentist gave me an antibiotic. After a week I was still having pain in my tooth and gum. I went to another dentist because the 1st dentist told me it would cost $1800 for two teeth. I went to the 2nd Dentist(that my friend refer me to) and it costed like $350 and the procedure went very good. He told me that I wont experience any pain that I would actually feel better. Well that was a lie because after the numbing wore off I was in excruciating pain. I was having sharp throbbing pains. Two days later he redid the root canal and said it was infected. He gave me an antibiotic and Ive been taking Vicodin for the pain. today is the next day after the second treatment and its been 24 hrs since I've had my antibiotic and I am hoping this works because it still hurts! I wish now that I should of got my tooth extracted. I wouldn't be in pain right now like i am if I did it.

—Guest jewels16

Cake... anyone?

I had my first root canal this morning. I have been worried about it since the day i made the appointment last week. I am so glad to say the experience was uneventful=] The only pain i felt was the first numbing shots. As my doctor began he asked if i felt any pain which i did feel a bit so he injected me some more..then again. I had a total of 6 shots. But that's always been an issue for me i always need multiple shots to be totally numb. And so the procedure continued. My mouth was held wide open by a rubber thingy (sorry i don't know what it's called). It actually makes the job more easier and prevents any contamination. I had my headphones on the entire time listening to music so i tuned out the loud drilling noises. The procedure took around 1hr and 1/2. Including the wait for the final x-rays. I was so relieved this wasn't painful at all. My dentist even cracked jokes a few times. As long as you have a excellent specialist you'll be golden.

—guestpat

dead tooth

I have just been told I need a root canal on one of my top front teeth which is dead, I've had pain for the last 24 hours but surprisingly its not in the tooth that needs the root canal... Apparently the pressure from the nerve in the dead tooth is causing the pain in the tooth next to it, Go in next week for my first of three appointments... Hoping all goes well...

—Guest guest

root canal

I need a root canal on my top front tooth, ans I am so scared to get it done.

—Guest green eyez

Quick EaSy

I needed a root canal but feared the pain and the procedure!!! I didn't go online to look at reviews because my mind couldn't take any negativity so... The procedure was easy!!! He numbed my mouth and I didn't feel anything!!! The drilling is loud and the vibrations from the drills weren't bad!!! But it's been an hour and I took some Motrin!!! Feeling alright so far;)

—Guest Candice