If you’ve been told you need a root canal to treat infection or damage in your tooth’s soft pulp, you might be more than a little hesitant to go forward with treatment. You’ve likely heard horror stories from family and friends about how painful root canals can be, and the thought of both a lengthy procedure and a long recovery time only fuels your anxiety. Take a deep breath, because there’s good news. While root canals used to be pretty unpleasant, a lot has changed in recent years. In fact, technological advancements, including cone beam scans and rotary instruments, as well as updated techniques, have made root canals virtually pain free.