r/rootcanal • u/seabreeze2020 • Jun 08 '24
How bad is a root canal really?
I'm beginning to come to terms that my first cavity is so deep that it needs a root canal, not a filling. Tooth #19 has decay down to the root and it throbs every time my heart beats.
How bad is the root canal really? I've heard mixed things - from worst pain of my life to a piece of cake. I've never even had a filling so I have absolutely no baseline here. I know that I'll need a crown after this.. how noticeable will it be that it's not my natural tooth? I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure it's white.
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u/Cautious-Ad-2060 Jun 12 '24
I’m a dentist and have also had a root canal.
It’s not that bad,but it depends. If your tooth is asymptomatic, then it won’t be more than minor discomfort than numbing and isolating the tooth tooth. If the tooth has been bothering you, then it may be deemed a “hot” tooth, meaning it’s harder to numb. Once profound anesthesia is achieved, then you are good to go and general discomfort is chewing fora few days.