Root canal q..?

Question:

My nine year old daughter is getting a root canal in a couple hours. I was just wondering how painful it is? And how long do they usually take? Thanks!

Answers:
If you have a good dentist and he/she uses lets the numbing agent(s) take effect before he starts working, she shouldn't feel a thing. She'll probably be sitting in the chair for about two hours, only about an hour of which the dentist will spend actually working in the tooth. The other hour will be spent waiting for the numbness to kick in and making molds of the restored tooth for the temporary crown. The two most uncomfortable things about having a root canal are having your mouth held open for a very long time, and the vibration you feel in your other teeth and your head while the dentist is cleaning out the canals.

I've had three, and I have never had any pain afterward, but I have a great dentist and everyone is different. I'm sure your daughter will do fine.

She shouldn't feel any of the actual root canal, since they will use novicaine to numb the area. Obviously, the shots are a little painful. You may want to consider having them give her nitrous oxide (laughing gas) prior to getting the shots. After, it can be somewhat painful, but they should give her some tylenol 3 or something for pain. As far as how long it takes, it generally takes about 2 hrs, including prep time and the time she will be on oxygen after the procedure if you elect to let her have laughing gas.

Root canal q..?

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