Many people dread having their dentist tell them that they will need a root canal. When a tooth's root and pulp are compromised by serious decay, a root canal will be needed to help ward off infection and prevent the tooth from becoming painful in the future.

Root canals can be painful, but there are some simple things that you can do to help make these dental procedures more bearable in the future.

1. Visit your dentist regularly.

One of the easiest ways to ensure that a root canal will give you as little pain as possible is to visit your dentist regularly. The more infected and decayed a tooth is, the more pain you could experience following a root canal.

Regular visits with your dentist will allow you to identify a tooth that is in need of a root canal early. Completing the root canal before additional damage occurs will help make the procedure more bearable.

2. Take antibiotics before your root canal.

If your tooth is infected, you might want to ask your dentist to prescribe you an antibiotic that you can take prior to having a root canal completed. The antibiotic will work in coordination with your body's own immune system to help fight the infection in your tooth. Reducing the infection within the tooth before opening it up to a root canal can help reduce the amount of pain and inflammation you might feel once the root canal is complete. Taking antibiotics prior to your root canal can be a simple and effective way to make your next root canal more bearable.

3. Schedule your root canal with an experienced endodontist.

When it comes to reducing the amount of discomfort that you feel following a root canal, it can be beneficial to have the procedure completed by an experienced endodontist. An endodontist is a dental professional that specializes specifically in diagnosing and treating problems affecting the pulp of a tooth.

Since endodontists have advanced knowledge and experience working with problem teeth, they will be equipped to complete your root canal quickly and efficiently. Reducing the amount of trauma that occurs at the site of the infection when treating a decaying tooth will help make a root canal more bearable.

Being able to identify some simple things that you can do to alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with root canals will help you make your next root canal more tolerable. Contact a dentist, like Webster John B DDS, for more help.