How to Survive Your First Root Canal

Getting your first root canal can be an intimidation experience, even if you aren’t usually scared of the dentist. If you want to get by as painlessly as possible these steps will help:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Relax. Being tense will not help you. Try to focus on other things and simply accept that this is needed for your health.

2. Get a good nights sleep before the procedure. This will reduce your chances of having a headache, which will not help during the procedure. (Note: Consult with your dentist before taking any pain killers on the day of a root canal, some pain killers are also blood thinners.

3. Wear comfortable clothing. You will be sitting in the dentists chair for quite awhile so you may as well be comfortable.

4. Wear a light coat of a clear lip balm (like a chapstick) this will help your lips to stretch without cracking.

5. If your root canal is near a meal time eat before you go. Because of the novicane you will not be able to check effectively for a few hours after the procedure.

6. If the sound of drilling bothers you then bring an iPod. You probably can’t put both ear phones in, but it will help some. Just be sure to let your dentist know about the iPod in advance.

7. Set your phone to vibrate, or turn it off. You won’t be answering it during the procedure anyway.

8. Do any after care or follow up as your dentist recommends.