How Long Will I Have to Sit in the Dentist Chair During a Root Canal?

Root canal therapy is an oral procedure done by dental practitioners to save a tooth whose roots have been extensively affected by decay. This procedure becomes necessary when inflammation or infection develops in your tooth’s pulp cavity or surrounding tissue. The pulp cavity is supplied with nerves and blood vessels and connects the tooth to the gums and bone, hence the urgent need to treat the infection.

When the tooth is not treated on time, you risk the infection spreading to surrounding teeth or other body parts. Your general health and oral health are synergetic, which means that bad dental health will negatively affect your general body health.

Who Needs a Root Canal?

People who can benefit from root canal therapy are those whose tooth roots and pulps are compromised. This can be due to:

• Repeated dental procedures to a specific tooth
• Oral trauma
• Dental cavities that extend deep beneath the enamel into the pulp cavity
• Teeth damage such as cracks and chips that sometimes expose the tooth’s inner layer, making it susceptible to harmful bacteria

What’s Involved in a Root Canal Procedure?

There are several steps involved when getting root canal therapy from an affordable dentist near you. Here is what you should expect during your appointment.

The first step will involve numbing the tooth to be treated and surrounding tissue with local anesthesia. Next, an access hole will be drilled in the tooth with the use of sterilized equipment. This hole allows the dentist to slowly clean and remove the infected and damaged tissue.

After the pulp cavity is cleaned, your dental practitioner will rinse its inside several times to ensure all the debris is removed. If there are signs of a tooth infection present, the oral expert will place some medication to kill all the remaining bacteria. An X-ray may be needed to ensure that the tooth’s root is completely clean. Next, you’ll get a temporary restoration, such as a filling to seal your cavity.

How Long Does It Take to Do a Root Canal?

If your tooth is severely decayed and you want to save it, you can schedule a root canal appointment with Dr. Erwin M. Ricafort, a root canal specialist near you. At Ricafort Dental Group – Murfreesboro, the procedure normally takes around 1.5 hours to 3 hours, but in some circumstances, one may need to visit the dental office twice.

The time you will spend at your dentist’s office will vary depending on various factors, including the type of tooth affected and the infection severity. For instance, a root canal on an incisor or canine teeth will take roughly 45 minutes to an hour. They take the least time because they only have one root. A procedure on a premolar will last an average of one hour, while it will take 90 minutes plus to work on molars.

People who are also scheduled to get a tooth crown afterward are likely to spend an hour more at the dentist’s office than those who are not receiving a crown.

Although root canal therapy is temporarily uncomfortable, your dental health will get much worse without the treatment, and you risk complications associated with severe infection.

Why Do Root Canals Sometimes Take Two Visits?

If your treated tooth is scheduled to get a tooth crown, or if it has a large cavity that needs to be filled, your dentist may schedule a second appointment for its final restoration.

Is a Root Canal Painful?

A root canal is one of the major oral procedures in dentistry. Since it is an invasive process, general anesthesia is used to numb pain around your tooth and surrounding tissue. You are likely to experience a little discomfort and slight pain once the anesthetic effect wears off. Over-the-counter pain relievers will help manage your pain during the first few days until there’s complete healing. However, if the pain persists, visit our emergency dentist in Murfreesboro, TN.

How Long Will Pain Last Following a Root Canal?

Pain should be characteristically mild and temporary when you have a successful root canal procedure and last only a few days. Make a follow-up visit if it persists longer than three days.