Are you currently experiencing dental pain? Have you been told that you may need a root canal but you've been putting it off? Nobody really likes going to the dentist but the thought of it can be even worse if you're in need of significant treatment. While there is currently no way to completely avoid needing to go to the dentist, there are definitely ways to at least make it less unpleasant and to make the recovery process easier. Some of the best things that you or your dentist can do include:

Different anesthetic: There are multiple anesthetics that your dentist could be using during your root canal treatment. A good dentist will have at least two kinds on hand and may have more. The reason for this is that some people have different reactions to a certain anesthetic. One person may only need one shot of anesthetic for it to work well while a different person may need several shots and a third person may not get any numbing effects no matter how much of that particular anesthetic is used. If a particular anesthetic has little effect on you, a good dentist should be willing to try a different anesthetic out to see if it makes a difference.

Listen to music: The sound of a dental drill can set almost anyone's teeth on edge. This, combined with the actual drilling, can make your root canal treatment seem painful even though the anesthetic is working. Instead of simply sitting and listening to the dentist working on your tooth, bring a pair of headphones or earbuds with you to your dental appointment along with your favorite music on your phone or MP3 player. Listening to the music will help to drown out the sounds of the dentist's office and help to prevent discomfort.

Take the day off: It's not uncommon for someone to go to their dentist in the morning and to go to work in the afternoon or to work in the morning and to get a root canal treatment in the afternoon. Although this may work for some people, the added stress of having to deal with work can compound with the stress of having to get dental work done, resulting in things seeming painful even if they would ordinarily be fine. If at all possible, take the entire day off of work and spend the day relaxing by reading a good book, watching a movie, or playing your favorite video game. The more relaxed you are and the less stress you feel, the less pain that you should feel as a result of your root canal.

Contact a dentist, like Apollo Dental Center, for more help.