How Long Does A Root Canal Take
Learning that you need a root canal may seem a little daunting but having a root canal is not the torturous experience it may have been in the past. Root canal therapy is a treatment performed to read a tooth infection and get you out of pain. The length of time it takes for a root canal to be completed depends on the extent of damage, infection in the pulp, and how many canals are involved. Root canal therapy can usually be completed one visit but sometimes, a second visit is necessary.
Root Canal Therapy Treatment
In One Visit
Teeth with only one canal, such as front teeth, can usually be treated in one visit quite easily which is ideal and lessens the chance of the tooth becoming reinfected while waiting for restoration. Your Endodontist will drill a small access hole into the tooth in order to clean out the canal of the infected pulp. They will then disinfect the canal with an antimicrobial agent and place a temporary filling over the access hole to protect the area from re-infection while you wait for your permanent restoration from your dentist.
In Two Visits
In the event that treatment cannot be completed in one visit, a second appointment may be necessary. Some of our teeth, such as the posterior teeth, have multiple canals. Molars and premolars have two to four but can even have five which may not be able to be completed in one visit. The Endodontist will place the same anti-microbial agent in the clean canals and apply a temporary filling to keep the area clean and protected until they can complete your treatment. For larger teeth, a two visit approach can be beneficial as it allows some healing time between treatments and the anti-microbial agent helps to disinfect the tooth.
Whether your treatment is completed in one or two visits, you may be prescribed a round of antibiotics if the infection was severe. You will also need to take extreme caution while eating or drinking with the temporary filling. The temporary filling will keep the tooth protected from re-infection but it is not meant to last forever so it is a soft material designed for easy removal for your permanent restoration.
Timeframe of Root Canal Therapy Treatment
The overall time you spend in the chair depends on the number of canals and the severity of the infection. Anterior teeth may take only 30 minutes to treat but if the infection is more extensive, treatment may take up to an hour per tooth. Posterior teeth with multiple canals can take up to one hour and 45 minutes per tooth. Your Endodontist may also want to see you for a consultation and evaluation before beginning treatment which can take up to 30 minutes.
Root canal therapy is a treatment developed specifically to get you out of pain. It is also often used as a treatment for patients who may not be experiencing any pain but need an infection cleared out in order to save a tooth.