To confirm that a tooth really needs root canal treatment, the dentist will take an X-ray of the root and may perform a pulp vitality test. In most pulp tests, a cold stimulus is placed on the tooth to check for a healthy response. Many teeth are tested to compare the answers. If the test confirms the need for a root canal treatment, this is carried out in one or two appointments. Depending on the size and duration of the abscess and other factors, the dentist will determine whether the root canal treatment will be performed in one or two appointments. In a re-treatment (secondary treatment), a tooth is likely to be treated in two sessions.
Patients are often curious about how long it takes to complete a root canal treatment. As a rule, you can expect one or two appointments of around 90 minutes each. An endodontist and some general dentists often perform root canal treatment with a wall-mounted microscope suspended over the patient’s mouth. This provides magnification to help the practitioner locate and treat all of the necessary anatomy within the tooth.
Before beginning the root canal treatment, the dentist will numb the tooth with a local anesthetic to ensure patient comfort. If the tooth is numb enough, the dentist places a rubber dam over the tooth. The rubber dam consists of a metal clip that holds a sheet of latex around the tooth to keep it clean and isolated from saliva and debris.
How Long Does A Root Canal Treatment Take?
An opening is made on the top of the tooth to remove the pulp from the canals. The canals are then cleaned with sodium hypochlorite or another disinfectant solution. The canals are then shaped using a series of files of increasing diameter to ensure that all infected tooth structure is removed and there is room for dental filling of the root canal. A series of x-rays are taken throughout the procedure to ensure the files reach the root end and that all canals are properly cleaned and shaped.
If the root canal needs to be completed in two sessions, the dentist will put medications like calcium hydroxide in the canal to kill bacteria at the root end and may prescribe an antibiotic to fight the root canal infection. A temporary filling is placed to fill the gap in the tooth and a second appointment is scheduled about a week later. If the tooth is treated in one appointment, the dentist will skip this part and go straight to filling the root canal.
If the root canal needs to be filled, the dentist will numb the tooth again, apply a rubber dam, and remove the temporary filling material. The channels are filled with a rubber-like material surrounded by a sealing paste. When an endodontist has performed the root canal treatment, a temporary filling will be placed in the opening and a general dentist will place the permanent filling. After the root canal treatment is complete, the tooth will likely need a crown to protect it from future fractures. A post may be placed in one of the canals to hold the filling in place, and the tooth is built up with a permanent filling. The dentist may choose to do the crown right away or wait a short time to ensure the tooth is pain free before proceeding with the dental crown.