Dentist says my tooth is pretty damaged, and I gotta decide between a crown or a root canal. Honestly, I'm kinda freaked out about both options. Heard some horror stories from friends about root canals being painful and crowns not lasting very long. Um, anyone here had either one done? Would love to hear your experiences, good or bad... just wanna know what I'm getting myself into.
"Heard some horror stories from friends about root canals being painful and crowns not lasting very long."
Yeah, totally get why you're nervous... I had a root canal last year, and honestly, it wasn't as bad as people made it sound. The procedure itself was pretty painless (thanks to numbing), but afterward, my tooth felt sensitive for a few days. My dentist said crowns can last years if you take care of them properly, but I'm still cautious about chewing hard stuff on that side. Definitely worth getting a second opinion if you're unsure though.
I completely agree with your experience. My daughter had a root canal done about two years ago, and we were pretty anxious beforehand because of all the scary stories we'd heard. But honestly, it turned out to be quite manageable. She said the numbing was effective, and while she did feel some mild discomfort afterward, it wasn't anything unbearable—just a bit tender for a couple of days.
"My dentist said crowns can last years if you take care of them properly"
That's exactly what our dentist mentioned too. He emphasized proper oral hygiene and regular check-ups as key factors in how long crowns last. So far, hers has held up perfectly fine, even though she's not always careful about chewing on that side (teenagers...). I think it's normal to feel cautious at first, but over time you might find yourself worrying less about it. Still, getting another opinion never hurts if you're feeling uncertain or uneasy about the procedure.
