My sister went to the dentist after school today, and her dentist told her she needs a root canal! She is in total disbelief and can't believe anyone her age could possibly need one. Do you know of any kids that ever needed one? She's totally scared it will hurt.

A root canal may be necessary for anyone of almost any age depending on overall oral health or on damage that has occurred.
Without a root canal infection caused by the tooth can cause the rest of the body to get sick.
Tell your sister not to worry the dentist knows what their talking about (If you're really worried or parents don't think she needs one you can always get a second opinion). Furthermore, the only thing she'll probably feel is a little prick at the beginning when they numb her mouth, they may even use laughing gas so she won't even feel that.
I have a cousin who had to have three root canals because he fell off his bike and screwed his teeth up, I've heard stories of young kids needing them as well due to poor oral health (my mom was a pediatric dentist).

Don't worry, the root canal will probably make her mouth feel better.

Yes, why would she not if they had poor teeth health. I have a family member that by 16 needed to have all of her teeth pulled.

Actually it's totally normal to have root canal therapy on a tooth. I work in a pediatric dental office and we even do root canals on little kids baby teeth like 3 and 4 years old. But the healthiest thing you can do is a root canal because pulling a tooth can cause all kinds of problems if its left alone. So that's the smartest thing to do.

Root canal treatment is not defined by age but the condition of your teeth.

Well, I've had 3 root canals in my life, I'm 19 years old now and I had my first one at 13 years old. None of them hurt but it hurt was when I went to get the permanent filling put in.

i was 11 wen i had mine and u couldn't even feel it