You need a root canal. The words alone are enough to make anyone nervous. But here's the good news: modern dentistry has excellent pain management options. Your comfort is absolutely achievable.

Your dentist injects a local anaesthetic near the affected tooth. That injection numbs the nerve inside the tooth and the surrounding area. You feel pressure during the procedure — but pain? That's the goal to eliminate entirely.

Most patients are surprised at how comfortable a root canal can be. The procedure itself takes between 30 and 90 minutes depending on the tooth. You'll be awake the whole time, which means you can communicate with your dentist if anything feels unusual.

Some patients have genuine dental anxiety that local anaesthetic alone doesn't address. That's completely normal. Your dentist can discuss additional options like oral sedation or relative analgesia (happy air). These don't put you to sleep — they just take the edge off significantly.

Some practices also offer IV sedation for deeper relaxation. This is worth asking about if the idea of dental work makes your heart race, even with a numbing injection.

You might feel a brief sting when the anaesthetic goes in. That's the worst of it for most people. Once the area is numb, your dentist accesses the inside of your tooth, removes the infected pulp, and cleans the canal thoroughly.

After cleaning, the canal is filled and sealed. You might feel vibration and pressure, but sharp pain should not occur. If you do feel pain, tell your dentist immediately — they can give you more anaesthetic.

When the numbness wears off, you may feel some tenderness in the area. This is normal and usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relief like ibuprofen. Most patients return to normal activities the next day.

A root canal has a reputation it doesn't deserve. With modern anaesthetic techniques, it's typically no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed.

Call 01323 723757 or book at www.meadsdental.com

Meads Village Dental Practice