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Step 1
Talk over the procedure in depth with your dentist or endodontist. The more you know, the less will be left to your imagination and the less anxious you'll be.
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Step 2
Ask as many questions as you need to get your answers. This includes how exactly the dentist will be doing the procedure, what type of novOcaine he'll be using, how much pain you can realistically expect to feel and what sort of pain you'll be in after the procedure.
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Step 3
Do some research online. There are plenty of websites devoted to root canals (see Resources below). They explain how the procedure is done and what recovery is like. There are even forums where you can talk to other people who've had root canals.
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Step 4
Put it into perspective. A root canal may cause you some discomfort but with today's modern technology and anesthetics, it's no more painful that getting a tooth filled.
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Step 5
Know that saving your tooth now will save you time and money down the road. If you let it go untreated, you will eventually lose your tooth. The only alternative is to get it extracted. You'll still need a partial denture or dental implant to fill the hole.
