Many times people who have what is a dull ache or the occasional stab in their teeth will take some Advil and try to resist it in the hope that whatever will go away. Sometimes it does, most of the time it doesn’t. Now, despite what some people may think, I don’t have my head in the clouds believing that people love getting dental treatment (although I indulge in the belief that my patients enjoy seeing me). So, I understand the phenomenon of watchful waiting (praying) for the dental dilemma to spontaneously disappear.

I appreciate and know very well the worry and anxiety that early dental treatment can sometimes evoke and if I do say so myself, I am very good at calming apprehension to the point where I have more smiles when they leave the office. (Okay, maybe they are smiling because they are actually leaving, but think what you want; a bit of “magic” has occurred).

Cause of fear?

So dentistry or thinking about it can precipitate anxiety. Thanks to cinema and pop culture, the dread and pain of these words have been perpetuated in our social conscience. Think The Marathon Man, The Little Shop of Horrors, even President Obama’s reference to bank bailouts “as popular as a root canal.” Not to mention a plethora of movie reviews with a reference to root canal treatment, including Andrew Sullivan of The Daily Beast who reviewed the Sarah Palin documentary as “A Root Root Canal from a Movie.” We know that any popular reference or comparison to a root canal is condemnation and certainly something to be avoided.

But to tell the truth, root canals does not cause pain, it actually relieves or prevents pain. And despite the negative reputation of this procedure, THERE IS NO REASON TO BE AFRAID. Advances in modern dentistry have made the root canal virtually painless. (I’ve always wondered what “virtually” means in this context. Well, it means it doesn’t hurt.) In my 30 years of practice, having performed countless root canal treatments, the most fearful people even terrified of the idea ARE PEOPLE I NEVER HAVE CHANNEL ROOT.

Erica, a marathon runner with endorphins flowing through her body, and Thomas, a West Point graduate and Army veteran, lost all facial color at the news that they needed a root canal. Both model patients have personally experienced extensive dental care much more complicated than they were nervous about (pun intended). Treating a beginner for a root canal can be very rewarding (not $ as you think). Because the negative exaggeration is so intense, when it’s complete, I come off the hero. “That’s?” is the most common comment (aside from praise for my talent and ability). For the record … I have personally had 6 teeth treated with root canal therapy.

Some people mistakenly believe that root canal treatment involves removing the roots of a tooth (actually, that would be an extraction: no roots, no tooth). A root canal treatment, also called endodontic therapy, treats the tissue known as dental pulp within the root while keeping the root itself intact and thus saving the tooth. Think of a cavity-like procedure in which the cavity is cleaned and a filling is placed on the tooth. It involves cleaning the irritated pulp (nerve) at the root and then filling in or sealing the remaining structure.

Not all tooth pain requires root canal treatment

In fact, most of the time, sensitive teeth respond to a very simple treatment (dental cleaning, fluoride treatment, fillings …) But, if you have an annoying tooth that is not treated, the dreaded procedure can become necessary. DO NOT BE AFRAID. IT IS NOT PAIN and you can go about your business immediately after treatment. If you are concerned, let your dentist know. Most of the time, the anticipation is worse than the actual treatment.

For the curious: Teeth have three layers: enamel, dentin, and pulp. Enamel is the hard outer surface that dazzles when you smile. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body with 98% mineral content. The bone has about 70%. Due to its hardness, enamel protects the most sensitive dentin and the extremely sensitive pulp that contains the nerve. The dental pulp works in the formation of teeth as they develop and erupt. The pulp also helps to hydrate the actual structure of the tooth. But the most recognized part of the pulp are the tiny nerves whose only function is to perceive pain. If the nerves in the pulp are stimulated by something (heat, cold, sweets), you will feel pain.

Dr. Michael Sinkin, DDS