There are few phrases in the English language that elicit as unanimous and as universal a reaction as "root canals." They just SOUND painful, don’t they? No wonder people put off having root canals as long as possible, even if it means suffering with a considerable amount of discomfort.

But while root canals are minimally invasive procedures, the minor discomfort of having a root canal is far less than the pain that will continue if the teeth are left untreated. Here are some advantages of root canals that reluctant patients should keep in mind —and why their long-term benefits far outweigh the short-term soreness patients may experience:

First of all, and most importantly, whatever discomfort you have isn’t going to go away on its own. In fact, if you’re feeling pain in your mouth, it’s a sure sign that whatever you have has been around for a while. And while you may not need a root canal - your issue could just be a cavity and repaired fairly quickly - ignoring the pain won’t repair the problem, and could in fact exacerbate it. Patients respond to common symptoms of tooth decay (such as pain, sensitivity and swelling or tenderness in the affected area) by shifting their chewing and drinking efforts to the other side of their mouth, which just increases the odds the teeth there will incur some kind of damage. If you’re in pain, go to the dentist.

Having root canals are sometimes multi-visit procedures, but these trips to the dentist can be fairly brief. Upon seeing you, the dentist will immediately take an X-ray, and if it’s determined that a root canal is necessary, he or she might begin the procedure immediately. The best part about that: You’ll begin feeling relief immediately, because an access opening will be drilled into the infected tooth relieving the pressure that had built up causing the toothache. The affected area will be tender for a couple days, but the lingering pain will disappear.

Follow-up visits, usually spaced two to three weeks apart, will be scheduled to fill the inside of the tooth (if that wasn’t done during the first visit) and restore the tooth with a crown or a crown and post that will protect the tooth and ensure no more breaking occurs.

Once root canals are complete, a patient can expect to return to full and normal function of his or her affected tooth and the rest of his or her mouth. A few days of tenderness are to be expected, but most of the time patients feel fine the day after the procedure.

Best of all, having root canals leads to long-lasting good health for the affected tooth or teeth. More than 95 percent of root canals are successful and many of the repairs made last forever. In addition, nobody will be able to tell someone had the procedure because the restorative material looks so much like the real thing.

Root canals aren’t anybody’s idea of fun, but the short-term procedure is worth the years of comfort patients will enjoy afterward (as long as they properly brush and floss, of course). If you think you need this procedure, don’t hesitate—call your dentist today and set up an appointment. You won’t regret it!