When you know for sure that you need a root canal, the only thing that is going through your mind is what to expect.
One of the commonly asked questions by our patients is: How long is a root canal procedure?
More specific knowledge about the duration of root canal and the process, in general, is a good way to be less anxious and be ready for the appointment.
Let’s get into the details of it all.
What Exactly is a Root Canal? Also, Why is It Important?
The dental procedure known as the root canal allows dentists to save infected or severely damaged teeth.
Root canal treatment becomes necessary for patients whose teeth contain inflammatory or infected pulp tissue because of:
- Severe tooth breakdown.
- Excessive dental procedures.
- Dental injuries.
The main goal of this method is to eliminate the underlying cause of the problem.
The root canal procedure prevents teeth from decay, making the entire oral cavity healthy.
This intervention allows natural tooth preservation to some extent while simultaneously eliminating pain, thus leading to reduced expensive dental procedures.
But how long does a root canal take and what does the process look like?
How Long is a Root Canal Procedure?
The time for a root canal process can vary; one session may last from a few minutes to a 2-hour local anesthesia-rested event.
Each root canal treatment session requires between 60 and 90 minutes.
The treatment duration of root canal procedures depends on individual cases, as some conditions require one session but others need multiple visits of two to three appointments.
A dental professional conducts proper diagnosis after initial visits by employing X-ray examinations and specific useful diagnostic tools.
Then, they can genuinely orient you on how long the root canal process exactly takes in your case.
The other question could be whether you need to be sedated.
So, do you get put to sleep for a root canal?
Commonly, root canals under local anesthesia are the way to go; most of the time, the patients are awake.
However, concessively, if you have major anxiety, there might be options for sedation like nitrous oxide or oral sedatives available.
What Can Affect Root Canal Procedure Time?
The root canal time can be different for each person. Several things may affect the root canal procedure time. These are the following:
- Complexity of the Tooth: Molar teeth with several canals usually take longer to treat than front teeth with only one canal.
- Extent of Decay or Infection: Sometimes, severely infected teeth require more processes and time to care.
- Retreatment Cases: If the tooth has already had the root canal treatment, but the infection is back again then the retreatment can take longer.
- Dentist’s Expertise: The experience of a dentist or endodontist (root canal specialist) who’s doing the procedure.
What is the Root Canal Process?
Familiarizing oneself with the steps can be very helpful in finding the needed clarity and assurance.
Here’s a breakdown of what happens during a root canal procedure:
- Assessment and Anesthesia: The dentist begins with local anesthetic administration during assessment to ensure patient comfort.
- Pulp Removal: Dental tools help the dentist perform a small tooth cut while removing infected or damaged pulp from the tooth canals before scrubbing them clean.
- Canal Shaping and Cleaning: The dentists reshape the canals while performing a thorough cleaning operation to eliminate unwanted bacteria and debris.
- Filling the Canals: Once cleaning is finished, the dental surgeon applies gutta-percha rubber substance to the canals.
- Sealing and Crown Placement: The dentist seals the area while covering it with permanent or temporary fillings and crowns to achieve functional and structural tooth restoration.
The duration of a root canal varies for every single step, but the smooth process results in a saved tooth and relieved pain.
The Benefits of a Root Canal
Although having a root canal might be a bit intimidating, there are several upsides to this specific surgery:
- Pain Relief: Bid farewell to the pain you used to suffer from, resulting from the infection or inflammation. This technique of root canals provides a pretty good chance of pain relief.
- Preserve Your Natural Tooth: Root canals keep a person’s natural tooth.
- Prevent Future Problems: Now is the best time to fix the issue so no further extensive (and expensive) problems arise.
What to Expect After the Root Canal Procedure
After root canal procedure, you may feel either mild swelling or tenderness around the area where it was treated or for a short period, even a few days.
This natural process can usually be controlled with medications such as ibuprofen.
Most people get back to work the next day or in their ordinary routines, except there might be a few instructions the dentist provides regarding chewing.
If you are curious how long does it take to recover from a root canal, the answer is that it varies from person to person.
Some recover within a day or two; at most, up to a week, they are fully healed.
Next Steps
Artisan Dental Studio is where gentle, effective dental care is provided to you.
If you are encountering any dental issues, please initiate a consultation with us so we can provide our service.
We make it comfortable for our patients to get their dental treatment.
Contact us for a consultation to learn more about root canal procedure time related to your specific case.
FAQs
Does a root canal hurt?
Contrarily, root canals are not more painful than filling.
Nowadays, with the use of modern technology and anesthesia, the whole procedure can be pain-free.
The pain you might sense afterward is temporary and light in most cases.
How long does it take to recover from a root canal?
People recover in a few days and return to normal. It makes the healing process more effective if you follow post-procedure care instructions precisely.
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