Worried about 6 root canals

Six root canals in one go honestly sounds like something out of a sci-fi horror movie. I had two done at once a few years back and thought I deserved a medal. My jaw felt like it had run a marathon, and I was basically living on smoothies and Netflix for a week. I can’t even wrap my head around six... you’re basically a dental warrior at that point.

Spacing them out makes a ton of sense, but I get the temptation to just get it all over with - like ripping a bandaid off, but, you know, with drills. I do wonder if the tech has gotten any better since then? I remember they had to use those old-school bite blocks and my jaw was stuck half-open for hours. Not the most glamorous look.

Steroids sound like a game changer though. I only got Tylenol and ice packs, and even then, the swelling made me look like I was storing snacks for winter. If steroids are on the table, I’d definitely ask about them. Kind of wild how much recovery varies depending on what your dentist offers.

Mashed potatoes and yogurt were my best friends too. I tried to eat pizza on day three… let’s just say, big mistake. Learned my lesson and stuck to soft foods after that.

You’ll make it through, even if it’s rough for a bit. It’s just a weird blip in time and then you’re back to normal (with hopefully zero tooth pain). If you end up with some bionic jaw strength from all this, at least there’s that silver lining.

Spacing them out makes a ton of sense, but I get the temptation to just get it all over with - like ripping a bandaid off, but, you know, with drills.

I gotta say, I’m kinda on the opposite side with this. Ripping off the bandaid sounds good in theory, but six root canals at once? My brain just short-circuits thinking about that. I feel like my anxiety would be through the roof. I had one done last year and even just sitting in the chair for that felt endless. By tooth number three or four, wouldn’t you be totally numb physically and mentally?

Also, is it just me or does recovery get exponentially worse the more you do at once? I’d worry about not being able to chew anything solid for ages if it was all in one go. I lived on applesauce and protein shakes after mine - a full week of soft foods and I was so over it by day three.

About the tech getting better, I’ve heard some places use these new jaw support things that are supposed to be less uncomfortable than those bite blocks from the dark ages. But maybe it depends on where you go? My dentist still had the old-school stuff and my jaw was basically locked open for hours too. Not cute.

I’m curious about steroids though - never got offered those. Are they really that much of a game changer? Tylenol barely made a dent for me, so if there’s something out there to cut down on swelling or pain, sign me up next time.

Not gonna lie, your “dental warrior” comment cracked me up. But honestly… does anyone actually feel stronger after all this? Or just slightly traumatized and weirdly proud to have survived?

Anyway, maybe spacing them out is the way to go if you’re worried about recovery being too rough. Unless you’re into extreme dental endurance sports or something.

I lived on applesauce and protein shakes after mine - a full week of soft foods and I was so over it by day three.

Man, I feel this so hard. After my last round, I couldn’t even look at another cup of pudding. And yeah, the jaw ache from those bite blocks is real - my dentist still uses the “ancient relic” model too. As for steroids, they helped me a bit with swelling but didn’t do much for pain. Honestly, “dental warrior” sounds cool until you’re drooling mashed potatoes for days...

Did your swelling last more than a couple days? My kid’s getting all six done over two appointments, and I’m honestly freaking out about how long they’ll be miserable. Did you have any trouble eating even soft foods, or was it just the usual soreness? I keep hearing different things about how bad the recovery is for kids versus adults... not sure what to expect.

Did you have any trouble eating even soft foods, or was it just the usual soreness? I keep hearing different things about how bad the recovery is for kids versus adults... not sure what to expect.

Honestly, I think it really depends on the kid. When I had a couple root canals as a teenager (not six at once, thank goodness), the swelling was pretty mild and only lasted a day or two. I went back to eating mashed potatoes and mac & cheese pretty quickly. But my younger cousin, who was 9 at the time, barely even complained - she was more upset about missing soccer practice than any actual pain.

I kind of feel like kids bounce back quicker than adults in general, even though everyone says root canals are “worse for children.” Maybe it’s just that adults tend to overthink it? My dentist said as long as you stick with soft foods and keep up with the ice packs, most of the discomfort is manageable.

Not saying it’ll be a walk in the park, but from what I’ve seen, kids are surprisingly resilient. The anticipation is usually worse than the recovery itself… at least in my family’s experience.