What if I am scared to death of tooth pain or having a root canal; should I just have my tooth pulled?

First, recognize that you are not alone.  Many people fear the idea of root canal therapy since they don’t know exactly what to expect or have heard negative comments.

Second, consider the fact that people often lump the memory of their dental or tooth pain in with the root canal therapy itself.  The indication for root canal therapy is usually an excruciating tooth ache.  In contrast, the treatment is pain relieving!  So allow us to put you at ease, and take care of your endodontic needs painlessly, with precision and compassion.

Third, carefully weigh your options. The most common alternative to having a root canal performed is extraction (i.e. having your tooth pulled).  In carefully-controlled clinical studies, patients who have had extractions report more pain and pressure during the extraction and more post-operative pain and complications after extraction than patients who have had root canal therapy performed.  With root canal therapy you will still have your natural tooth. By extracting it you will not.