Are Root Canals Painful? They Don’t Have to Be.

Ask anyone and they most likely have an opinion about root canals—even if they’ve never had one! We recently conducted a survey to test the current climate around root canals and learned that, despite advances in root canal treatment, negative root canal misconceptions still persist.

Would you rather: The root canal edition

Medical procedures can cause concerns, so it’s no wonder that over 80% of survey respondents described feeling anxious or scared at the possibility of needing a root canal⁶. More surprising, however, is that over 67% of survey respondents reported being terrified of getting a root canal procedure⁶. In fact, there are a number of unpleasant experiences they’d prefer over having a root canal:

• Nearly 80% would rather give up social media for two weeks⁶
• 54% would rather have a colonoscopy⁶
• 77% would rather be forced to sleep at the airport after a cancelled flight⁶

Root canal pain was cited as the primary reason for survey respondents’ apprehension of treatment, which many equated to breaking a bone (39%) or burning a hand on the stove (31%)⁶. But is a root canal painful enough to warrant such dread? What if we told you that patients can often experience no pain at all⁴.

You have a choice in root canal treatment

Advances in technology now give us more options in root canal treatment. The GentleWave® Procedure is a modern root canal option that delivers superior cleaning and disinfection with a minimally invasive protocol. With over one million patients treated, this innovative procedure preserves natural tooth structure⁴, promotes fast healing⁴ and can typically be completed in just one appointment⁴. But the part we think you’ll love the most? That 96.6% of patients report experiencing little to no pain after the GentleWave Procedure⁷.

Root canal treatments don't have to be painful

Choose the GentleWave Procedure. Use our Doctor Locator to find a provider and schedule a consultation near you.