Worried about 6 root canals

- Six at once sounds wild. I can barely handle one.
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The numb-face thing is so real... mine lasted almost half a day once.

I totally get being more freaked out about the aftermath than the actual root canal. The numb-face thing threw me off way more than I expected - mine lasted about 6 hours, and eating was just awkward. I had to stick to smoothies and soup the first day, but talking wasn’t a huge issue (unless you count sounding like I just left the dentist, which, well...).

About splitting them up: I did two at a time over three weeks. Honestly, it helped me recover better - less swelling and jaw pain - but yeah, it did drag out the anxiety a bit. I’d still pick that over doing six at once though. My friend did four in one go and said she felt wiped for days.

For work, I took two days off after each session and was fine. Swelling was mild for me, but I iced my face religiously. If you’re worried, maybe ask your dentist if you can break it up? Everyone’s different, but there’s no shame in wanting an easier recovery.

I’m with you on the numb-face weirdness - mine felt like I’d just had a run-in with a tranquilizer dart. I kept poking my cheek to see if it was still attached. The smoothie diet gets old fast, but hey, at least you don’t have to worry about biting your tongue off by accident.

Breaking up the procedures definitely sounds more humane than going through six at once. I did three in one go a couple years back, and my jaw hated me for a solid week. The swelling wasn’t too bad, but I had that chipmunk look for a bit, and chewing anything tougher than oatmeal was a no-go. Ice packs were my best friend.

Did your dentist mention anything about anti-inflammatories or steroid packs for the swelling? Mine prescribed a short course, and it honestly made a difference. Curious if anyone else had that option or if it’s just hit or miss depending on the provider.

My dentist actually did give me a steroid pack for the swelling when I had two root canals done last year, and it made a pretty big difference for me. The swelling was way less than I expected, and I felt less “puffy” overall. But my friend went to a different office and didn’t get offered anything except ibuprofen, so I guess it really depends on who you see and maybe how much swelling they expect.

I totally relate to the chipmunk face - mine lasted about three days, and I lived on mashed potatoes and yogurt. It’s wild how much those numbing shots mess with your face, right? I kept checking in the mirror to make sure my smile still worked.

Breaking things up is so much kinder to your jaw. Six at once sounds brutal. If anyone’s worried about swelling, it’s definitely worth asking about steroids or at least prescription-strength anti-inflammatories. Not every dentist brings it up unless you ask.

Breaking things up is so much kinder to your jaw. Six at once sounds brutal.

Totally agree with this. I had three root canals in one sitting and honestly, my jaw was sore for days. Can’t even imagine six. If you can space them out, your recovery might be a lot smoother. Also, I didn’t get offered steroids either - just Advil. Next time I’d definitely ask, since it sounds like it helped you a ton. You’re right, mashed potatoes and yogurt basically saved me too. It’s a weird few days, but you get through it.

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.

Yeah, I’d agree - kids really do seem to bounce back faster. When my son had two root canals at age 8, he was honestly more annoyed with the “boring” food than any pain. He stuck to yogurt and scrambled eggs for a day or two, then wanted pizza (we held him off a bit longer, just in case). There was some soreness, but nothing major - he didn’t even need the stronger pain meds they prescribed.

For me as an adult, I definitely felt it more. I was sore for almost a week and chewing was uncomfortable even with soft stuff. Maybe it’s because adults are more tense about it? Or maybe we just notice every little ache.

One thing that helped both of us: staying ahead of the pain with meds and not waiting till it hurt. Also, cold compresses worked wonders for swelling. The mental build-up is way worse than the actual recovery, in my experience. It’s tough seeing your kid go through it, but they really do surprise you with how quickly they’re back to normal.

It’s wild how much faster kids seem to recover. My niece had dental work done and was back to bouncing off the walls before I even finished my coffee. Meanwhile, when I had just one root canal, I basically lived on mashed potatoes and Netflix for days. I do think adults psych themselves out more - we know what’s coming, and every twinge feels like a big deal. Staying ahead of the pain with meds is solid advice. For me, ice packs and distraction (video games, anyone?) helped a ton too.

I’ve noticed the same thing with kids - they seem to bounce back from almost everything. I wonder if it’s partly because they don’t overthink it? I had two root canals last year, and I swear the anticipation was worse than the actual pain. For me, keeping a log of when I took my meds helped a lot (I’m a bit obsessive with tracking stuff). Distraction is key, too - I got through the worst of it by grinding away at Mario Kart. Ice packs definitely helped, but honestly, the mental side was half the battle.

I get what you mean about the mental side, but honestly, for me, the cost was just as stressful as the pain. When my dentist said I needed three root canals, I spent days just worrying about how I’d pay for it all. The pain was rough, sure, but the bills kept me up at night. I tried to distract myself with Netflix, but every time I laughed too hard, it hurt. Tracking meds is smart, though - I lost track once and ended up taking two ibuprofens too close together. Not fun. Sometimes I think adults just have way more on their plates than kids, and that makes bouncing back harder.

The pain was rough, sure, but the bills kept me up at night.

That hits home way more than I’d like to admit. Dental pain is one thing, but the financial side just lingers in your mind even when the meds finally kick in. I remember staring at my treatment plan for days, doing math in my head and thinking, “Okay, if I skip eating out for two months and maybe put off getting new tires…” It’s wild how much energy goes into worrying about the money part.

I get what you’re saying about adults having more on their plates. It’s like, as a kid, you just show up and someone else handles the bill. Now, every procedure comes with this mental calculation: “Is this going to mess up my rent? Should I ask about payment plans? Is insurance going to cover even half of this?” Sometimes I think the stress of it all makes the recovery harder, too. Stress doesn’t exactly help the healing process.

About tracking meds - yeah, that’s a sneaky one. I started setting alarms on my phone because I’d forget if I took something already, and I really didn’t want to double up by accident again. It’s such a simple thing but makes a difference, especially when your brain’s foggy from pain or lack of sleep.

If it helps, I ended up talking to the dentist’s office about payment options, and they were way more flexible than I expected. Not saying it made everything magically affordable, but just spreading out payments a bit took some pressure off. Also, sometimes there are dental schools or clinics that offer lower-cost work if you’re open to it. It’s not always a perfect solution, but I wish someone had mentioned it to me sooner.

Root canals sound scary (and six is a lot), but you’re definitely not alone in feeling overwhelmed by the whole package - pain, cost, stress, all of it. One thing at a time, even if it sometimes feels like a juggling act you never signed up for.

That’s exactly how my brain’s been running lately - just this endless loop of “how am I going to pay for all this?” I haven’t even had my first root canal yet and I’m already stressing about the bills more than the actual pain. It’s weird, but sometimes the anxiety about money just overshadows everything else.

I totally relate to the part about tracking meds, too. I set reminders on my phone, but I still second-guess myself and worry I messed up the timing. It’s like, the pain is bad enough, but then you add in the stress of possibly taking too much or too little... it’s a lot.

One thing that helped me a little was actually talking to my dentist’s office, even though I felt awkward about it. They walked me through what my insurance would actually cover (which wasn’t as much as I hoped, but still something), and they offered a payment plan I didn’t know was an option. I wish I’d asked sooner instead of just panicking alone.

You’re right, it’s a juggling act. But just getting through one step at a time is all you can really do.

I totally get where you’re coming from - honestly, the financial stress can sometimes feel worse than the dental stuff itself. When I had my first root canal, I was so focused on how to pay for it that I barely thought about the actual procedure. Payment plans helped me too, and I found out some offices are willing to work with you if you just ask (even if it feels awkward at first). As for tracking meds, I still second-guess myself all the time... sticky notes everywhere and I STILL worry. It’s a lot to juggle, but you’re right - one step at a time is really all you can do.

- Been there, honestly. I set up a spreadsheet for meds and appointment costs - way easier to track than sticky notes everywhere.
- Payment plans saved me too, but I wish more offices were upfront about them... sometimes you have to dig for info.
- For pain management, I used an app with reminders so I didn’t double-dose. Kind of overkill? Maybe, but it worked.
- Six root canals sounds brutal, but breaking it into steps kept me sane. One procedure at a time, one payment at a time.

Six root canals in a row is a marathon, not a sprint - props for breaking it up, I’d have lost my mind trying to tackle all that at once. Spreadsheets for meds and costs? I’m impressed… my “system” was more like a pile of receipts and the occasional frantic note on my phone. I do wonder if anyone’s ever found a dentist who actually tells you upfront about payment plans without you having to play detective - does that even exist?

About the pain management apps: I used one too, but honestly, sometimes I’d forget to log stuff anyway and then just end up triple-checking with the pharmacist. Did you find the reminders actually helped, or did they just make you more anxious about missing a dose? I always felt like I was being nagged by my phone, but maybe that’s just me.

How long did it take for you to recover after each root canal? I bounced back pretty quick from mine, but heard some folks are out of commission for days.

I do wonder if anyone’s ever found a dentist who actually tells you upfront about payment plans without you having to play detective - does that even exist?

- Payment plans: They’re like unicorns - rumored to exist, but I’ve never seen one in the wild. Usually have to ask three different people and fill out a form that looks like a mortgage application. If you find a dentist who brings it up first, hang on to them.

- Spreadsheets vs. receipts: Respect for the spreadsheet game. I tried that once, but after the second appointment, it turned into a “guess the copay” game and I gave up.

- Pain management apps: Mixed feelings. The reminders helped me not skip doses, but sometimes it did feel like my phone was my overbearing mom. I started ignoring them after a while and just set alarms for the big stuff (like antibiotics).

- Recovery: For me, each root canal was a little different. First one knocked me out for two days, but after that, I was back at work the next morning (with a slightly puffy face). Ibuprofen and soft foods were my best friends.

Honestly, six in a row sounds brutal, but breaking them up is definitely the way to go. One at a time is enough dental drama for me.