re: What is a root canal like?

Worst part is paying for it.

I had to get one years ago when i was broke student. Found this guy in the phone book (pre-internet) who said he would do it for $250 cash. Got to his office and it was empty - no receptionist, no other clients. He took me in the back did the procedure, but skimped on the pain killers, but i went with it cause i didn't know. Based on rumors, thought a Root Canal was supposed to be the most painful thing in the world. Dentist was super overweight and he perspired like a fountain. I don't think the AC was on. Sweat kept dripping in my mouth. It was all probably the worst experience of my life. I would have been better going to Mexico.

He did not give me antibiotics - instead shoved a bunch of antiseptic cotton in the hole, which i learned later all could have killed me. Told me to come back in two weeks for a crown and quoted me another $250. When i returned the place was boarded up and health department posted a bunch of notices on the wall.

I called around again and spoke to this dentist in the mall who felt bad for me and finished the job for $250. Years later, when technology improved and i had a dental plan, they found an infection in that area and had to extract the tooth and have the gums treated.

that part in the last paragraph, while probably 100% true in your case, is a very common upsale scam among dentists in my area

I have had several in the past few years and to be honest didn’t feel any pain at all. The dentists now rub some deadening material on the gum si rhatvyou done feel the needle with the real stuff even pierce the gum. After that the worst part is the sore jaw from having your mouth open so long.

Root canal and colonoscopy are today’s 2 most overhyped procedures with regard to pain.

Not bad. They drill out your tooth. Fill it and cover with a crown. You won't feel it with the novacane but the smell of your tooth burning from the grinding coupled with the sound is annoying.
A friend of mine got put to sleep before he had his done. That wasn't an option for me.

You’re all good. It’s not bad. The worst part is the numbing shots in your jaw. Which at that point you don’t feel your face. After that nitrous. At the point you don’t give a frick what they are doing to you. It’s all good.

Plus that file thing to kill the nerves at the tooth. Of course you don’t feel it. It’s just a weird feeling

I had one done on a tooth in the back, they pulled it four years and $2500 later.