Root canal therapy is a treatment performed by a dentist to preserve a tooth by removing bacteria and dying or already dead tissue inside. Quite simply, it saves the natural tooth, which is always better than an artificial replacement. Even so, patients dread having to hear the words “root canal,” let alone going to their dental clinic for the procedure.

According to the American Association of Endodontists, 67 percent of Americans say fear of pain is what concerns them the most about having root canal. This might have been normal a couple of decades ago, but advances have been made in the technology and anesthetics used for the procedure to eliminate pain. Dentists numb the tooth and the surrounding area to make the procedure no less painful than a standard cavity filling. Prescription medicine may also be given to you so you don’t feel any discomfort afterwards. In any case, it’s better than having to live with the constant, throbbing pain brought on by decaying teeth.

Unlike in your grandparents’ days root canal no longer takes that long to perform. For the most part, it is a pretty straightforward procedure that consist of numbing the mouth, cleaning the tooth, removing the infected pulp and applying gutta-percha. All in all, it only takes a couple of hours to complete, and within one appointment, too. That won’t seem like such a long time if you listen to your favorite tunes while you’re in the chair. It will also help distract you from the treatment if you’re feeling anxious to begin with.

Root canal therapy is arguably not the least expensive of all dental procedures. The overall price for a root canal will depend on several factors, including your location, type of tooth to be preserved, and restoration methods included. On the other hand, tooth extraction can be hundreds of dollars cheaper, which is why some would go this route. What they fail to take into account, however, is the cost of replacing the extracted tooth with an artificial one. Some replacements can have prices of up to $3,500 or more, making root canal the thrifty option.