We’ve all heard the rumors – root canals are scary and painful procedures, but sometimes they are necessary. A root canal is a procedure whereby the pulp of the tooth, or the soft tissue under the enamel, becomes inflamed or infected. These may be caused by a chip in the tooth, a crack, or even trauma to the tooth. If left untreated, inflamed pulp can lead to the loss of the tooth. More than 15 million root canals are performed annually, so while your dentist is very experienced in the procedure, it is often difficult to keep calm. But what can you do to prepare to make it easier?