What's the best way to mentally prepare for a root canalThe portion of the pulp cavity inside the root of a tooth; the chamber within the root of the tooth that contains the pulp.?
Root canal treatment is often perceived to be amongst the most anxiety inducing dental treatments around, with patients worrying about not the procedure itself but also the after effects. Whilst this treatment can sound particularly scary, there is little to worry about. However, should you require a little extra peace of mind, we recommend that there are things you can do to alleviate your mind from worrying.
Speak to your dentist
Prior to the treatment, you can have a long conversation with your dentist and discuss any concerns or worries you might have. Talking about the process, the tools and the expected results, can give you peace of mind about the root canal surgery. This means you won’t have any surprises and be aware of how safe the procedure is.
Breathing exercises
Some patients find that using relaxing and calming breathing exercises – taking long and deep breaths – through their nose can induce a state of calm and help them concentrate on other matters away from the procedure.
Discuss signals
You might be worried about potential pain that could arise from the surgery and thus you should agree on certain signals with your dentist. When the surgery is underway there are likely to be dental tools in your mouth for most of the procedure, meaning you will be unable to speak. Having pre-agreed signals means you can tell your dentist when you want them to pause due to pain.
Keep your mind busy
It may seem difficult to keep your mind off the root canal when you are lying back in the surgery however we would advise that before you enter you come up with a list of topics to keep your mind occupied. This could be as simple as music or shopping list, or even the meal you are going to eat after the successful procedure. Whatever your choice, this will keep your nerves and bay and make for a more relaxing experience.
Remove unnecessary stresses
Finally, you may find that simply removing other potential everyday stresses helps you remain calm. Taking the day off work so you don’t have to go back to the office afterwards may help your recovery and make you feel less self-conscious. Making sure that you have a calm and relaxing period of time before and after the treatment can help you mentally prepare and recover.
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