apparently back when i was like 5 - luckily i don't even remember it, but when i was in second grade, i managed to chip an entire molar in half on an oreo and felt no pain...my teacher was shocked and sent me home - when i finally got to the dentist, he realized it was magically the same tooth that i had had the root canal on and therefore couldn't feel anything...thankfully...and it was a baby tooth, so it eventually fell out and all was well

I had one last month, it was no big deal. Actually, it was a huge relief to have it compared to the abcess in the root that precipitated it, THAT was excruciating!

I am 20 and I had 2. Its very frustrating. Ive been obsessing over my teeth for years and years and years. Flossing, mouthwashing, and brushing many times a day (usually after every time I eat) but they just keep getting worse. After every check up my dentist tells me I need a couple of fillings. I think its genetic : (

Five cavities, braces, a retainer, four wisdom teeth and a molar removed, a tooth implant, but no root canals. I have a feeling that compared to the implant,a root canal would be nothing. The implant wasn't all that bad though, the whole process just took a long time. Felt really weird when they were screwing it into my gum... I wouldn't want to go through it again, but I think I was in much more pain overall from my braces.

yes, and it didn't hurt one bit. i was just annoyed at how long it took.

Yes and it was fine. In fact, it was almost enjoyable. Is that weird? Oh well! I knew once it was over all of my tooth pain would be gone and low and behold... it was!

Earlier in the year I'd had veneers fitted to my front teeth so I was quite a fan of my dentist (seriously) for making my smile look normal again.

I estimate that dental work has cost me in the region of £1000 in the last year.

I've had two done and the procedures didn't hurt at all. What REALLY hurt was the teeth dying before I had the procedure done. I think if the root is dead the root canal doesn't hurt.

I haven't had one, but I feel for you, Fit! I just had my first cavity filled last May. My tooth hurt worse after the filling than it did before. I went back to the dentist and they couldn't find anything wrong with it, so I still can't chew many foods on the left side of my mouth. Toothe pain is the WORST!

The worst part is getting the needles in your gum & roof of your mouth beforehand to numb the area. The drilling isn't comfortable but not too painful per se. It's just uncomfortable having to 'open wide' for that long while they drill & drill away :S

I've had one, but it was pretty painful, actually. I agree with Zigggy, the needles used to inject the Novocaine were probably the worst part. But, when they pulled the root out, I felt it and it was extremely painful. It was probably more painful than the needles, but the pain was over very quickly.

Ugh, one of my teeth has been bothering me all weekend too. I had work done on it last month but starting last Wednesday I couldn't even chew on that side of my mouth. I almost had to get a root canal earlier this year, but luckily didn't (on other side of my mouth). Going to the dentist tomorrow morning to find out what's going on .

I've never had one. I have had a few fillings, but my dentist usually catches cavities early and fills them as soon as she sees them so they never get deeper and need crowns. I've always had really good teeth, so I guess I'm lucky.

I've had 2...they weren't too terrible. I needed the second one from my tooth shattering--I grind/clench at night and wasn't wearing my guard. I happen to have really deep roots so they had to keep numbing my roots from the inside throughout the procedures. Don't be afraid to say -- "yo! I need more novocaine please" if you start to feel pain.

One hint that I do suggest is making sure you put a generous amount of lip balm on your lips before they put the dental dam on...otherwise the latex pulls your lips apart and that gets really irritating/painful.

Yes, I had one, it sucked. I attribute that to my terrible dentist. Sooo glad I dont go there anymore.

I'm 21 and I've had 2. You wouldn't even notice because my teeth are straight and clean. I had to have both of the root canals pulled in the end anyways. Thankfully, they are small molars and you cant really see them missing. Turns out when they pulled the tooth, I had a HUGE cyst on the one and the dentist said it was the largest he had ever seen. It's crazy how you can take care of your teeth and this kind of stuff happens. =( And yes the novocain shot is the WORSTTT!

I've had one. My first ever cavity was a year ago. The dentist who did the filling (did the filling too large, as well as nicked the nerve). I was in horrible pain after the filling but because I had never had a cavity before I didn’t know this wasn’t the norm. 3 months later I traveled to a different state (apparently high altitude, via the plane as well as where I was staying, can make an abscess go into full force). I went to a local dentist where I was staying and after looking at the x-rays he told me the dentist who had filled my cavity did a horrible job and made it 4 times larger than it should have been (he shouldn’t have been anywhere near the nerve).

So essentially, my first and only ever cavity ended up turning into a root canal. What hurt me more than the actual pain was that I was stuck having to pay for a root canal (in addition to the cavity filling I had originally had) when it wasn’t even a lack of dental hygiene that created the root canal, it was dentist error. Needless to say I no longer go to that dentist (I changed dentists after that horrible filling). I wish that dentist would have had to pay for the root canal instead of me, since it was his fault, but that’s life.

I've had two root canals. The first time was decent. There was some discomfort, but it wasn't painful. The second time, it was because the dentist screwed up when he took out my wisdom teeth (which hurt so much I wouldnt let him finish). I went to a different dentist than the first time because I had moved. So, of course, she didn't believe me when I said I could still feel her drilling. I was never scared of the dentist before, but after my last two visits, I never want to go back again.

Never allow a dentist to use formaldehyde in your root canal. Don't assume they won't, ASK and say NO! There is a disrespected group of mainly general dentist who are using this stuff against the guidance and acceptance of all main stream dentistry. The FDA rejected it in 1993, it's still not approved, yet these dentists operate knowing that the FDA is dysfunctional and will likely do nothing. See the NBC news story at www.worstrootcanalever.com. Injuries are random...don't walk in our shoes.