Wow! You sure have been through a lot and certainly not surprising that you are anxious about seeing the dentist again. But your health is so important and putting it off will only add more stress to your life, and with a little one to take care of, it's important for you to be a happy mother for him. Since you are comfortable talking with your dentist, maybe you should tell her how anxious you are in case she could prescribe something to help you relax. You may never even need to have a root canal, but if down the road, it should be necessary I can tell you from experience that when I needed one, my regular dentist sent me to a specialist - an Endodontist. My dentist had given me a prescription for pain pills and my daughter was all set to drive me to my appointment but I never even used the prescription and I drove myself to and from! I think we all thought the root canal would be a terrible ordeal (including me!) but there was no pain at all, not even an uncomfortable feeling. I had another root canal a few months later and it was the same very comfortable experience! Do tell your dentist about all your concerns - she may be able to reassure you and make you feel better about getting your teeth taken care of. Let us know what happens.