Tips For Surviving A Root Canal
Posted on: 17 October 2016
You probably have heard horror stories about root canals. However, you also know that in order for your mouth to remain healthy and for you to be able to chew properly, without any pain, you might need to get one. If your dentist recommends a root canal, you might feel too fearful to schedule one. Here are some things that you can do ahead of time to make the prospect of a root canal less scary so that you can actually get yourself to schedule one.
1. Have a Signal Worked Out With Your Doctor
If you are going to be conscious or partly conscious during your root canal, you might worry that you are going to feel an excessive amount of pain and not be able to do anything about it. Your dentist is going to be watching you and your body language to try to see if you are in pain and if he or she needs to do anything about it. However, you will likely feel more confident if you work out a signal with your dentist that tells him or her that you need him or her to remove the tools from your mouth for a second so that you can take a break. You should also have a separate signal that will let the dentist know that you are in pain so that he or she can make adjustments.
Having a system of signals worked out will make you feel like you are in control, which will give you more confidence.
2. Ask for a Breakdown of the Procedure
For many people, knowing what is going to be happening during a root canal can make them feel a lot better about having to go through with it at all. Ask your dentist to tell you exactly what is going to happen before you even get in the chair. Knowing what's happening will also make you feel more confident and relaxed during the procedure.
3. Have a Built-In Distraction
See if you can watch TV while in the dentist's chair. If you can't do this, see if you can listen to podcasts or music. You want to distract yourself from what's going on in your mouth so that you can get through the procedure more easily and with less anxiety. If you are focusing on the drilling, the process is going to feel like it takes twice as long. Just focusing on anything else can make it more bearable.
For more information, talk to a local dentist like Apollo Dental Center.
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