Every tooth is essential to a healthy smile; however, it’s not uncommon for a tooth to become compromised over the years, such as from decay, infection, or trauma. Your dentist can rehabilitate a severely damaged tooth with root canal therapy. Although the treatment is only used as a last resort, the American Association of Endodontics reports over 25 million root canals are performed annually because it has a 97% success rate. If your dentist has recommended the procedure, it’s best to get it right away to save your tooth, but there’s probably one question on your mind – are root canals painful? Despite their bad reputation, the treatment is virtually pain-free thanks to innovations in dentistry.