TL;DR Root canals aren’t nearly as bad as their reputation. The procedure itself is usually comfortable, thanks to modern anesthesia. Most people feel relief, not pain, afterward. Recovery is quick, but a crown is often key to long-term success. Ignoring a needed root canal almost always leads to more pain, more damage, and higher costs. If someone just told you that you need a root canal, chances are your stomach dropped a little. That reaction is incredibly common and hones

If you’ve been told you need a root canal , your first instinct might be to panic. Maybe you’ve heard horror stories, or maybe you just...