Root canal is usually painful.
"When people are told that they need a root canal treatment, they usually think about pain," says Gunnar Hasselgren, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor of endodontics and director of endodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. "However, the pain they feel is caused by an infection in the tooth, not by root canal treatment. A root canal is done to eliminate that pain."

The root canal procedure itself is painless. A local anesthetic numbs the tooth and the surrounding area. Many people may be afraid to have a root canal because they are anxious about having dental work done. Dentists can provide calming medications, such as nitrous oxide.

The tooth's nerves are removed, so I won't feel any pain.
"Many people believe that once they have had root canal treatment, they will no longer feel pain in the treated tooth. This, however, is incorrect," Dr. Hasselgren says. The tooth will no longer be sensitive to hot or cold food or beverages. But for a few days after treatment, the tissues around the tooth can be swollen. This may make you uncomfortable. If this happens to you, your dentist can prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication.

Why bother getting a root canal done when I'm just going to need the tooth taken out eventually?
"It is not correct to assume that the treated tooth will eventually need to be extracted," Dr. Hasselgren says. "In fact, most root canal treatments are successful and result in the tooth being saved."

I'm not feeling any pain, so I don't really need a root canal.
"Most teeth that need root canal therapy will not cause pain. But that does not mean the tooth is OK," Dr. Hasselgren says. Your dentist and endodontist have ways to see if the tooth's pulp is damaged or infected. If it is, then you will need root canal therapy, even if the tooth doesn't hurt.

If you see something near a damaged tooth that looks like a pimple, see your dentist. The "pimple," called a sinus tract, is a tunnel of tissue draining pus from an infection. It can come and go. The infection must be treated, and the tooth probably needs root canal therapy. Without treatment, nearby tissues may be damaged.

A root canal means I'm having the roots of my tooth, or my whole tooth, removed.
The whole point of root canal therapy is to try to save a tooth, not to remove it. Your tooth and roots are not removed. The canals are cleaned and shaped on the inside only.

"During root canal treatment, the inside of your tooth is treated, not the outside," Dr. Hasselgren says. "The endodontist removes the pulp, located in the center of the tooth."

After I get the root canal, I won't have to go back to the dentist for a while.
Once you have received root canal therapy, you will need to make follow-up appointments to have a filling or crown put on the tooth. "The filling that is placed after the pulp has been removed will protect the root from infection, but the crown of the tooth must be restored," Dr. Hasselgren says.

If you do not have a permanent crown placed on a back tooth, it could break when you bite down on it.