Root canals have long been misrepresented in media, causing many patients anxiety and fear about receiving treatment. However, the truth is that it actually erases dental pain in addition to preserving your natural tooth. To help ease any fear you may be feeling about your upcoming treatment, it could be helpful to learn what to expect during the process and how long it will take. Read on to learn more about what will happen during your root canal treatment.
How Long Does a Root Canal Take?
The length of your root canal treatment will depend on a couple of different factors, including how far the infection has progressed, the shape and length of the roots of your teeth, and whether you need more than one tooth treated. However, in many cases, root canals can be completed within 30 to 90 minutes. After the treatment itself, your tooth will need to be prepared to receive a temporary crown, with the permanent one being secured atop your treated tooth up to two weeks later.
What to Expect During Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatments aren’t something to fear! The process only takes about an hour on average, and it’s relatively simple. First, your dentist will numb the area around the affected tooth and create a barrier around it to make sure no bacteria or saliva contaminate the pulp. They’ll create a small window in the biting surface of the tooth to expose the infected pulp and gently remove it. Then, your dentist in DuPont will sanitize the inner chamber of the tooth to make sure no bacteria linger before sealing it with a putty-like substance called gutta percha.
Once the gutta percha has been cured, your dentist will then prepare the tooth and place a temporary crown atop it for an additional layer of protection. After your permanent crown has been crafted by the dental laboratory, you’ll need to come back in to get it secured in place of your temporary one.
How Long Does it Take to Recover from Root Canal Treatment?
After your root canal treatment, it’s likely that you’ll feel sore for one to three days after your treatment as the local anesthesia wears off. You can take over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help minimize your discomfort, but if your pain worsens or doesn’t get any better, be sure to check in with your dentist.
Root canal treatment can be a smile-saving procedure that keeps you from needing to extract and replace one of your natural teeth, and although it has a reputation for being scary, that’s not the case at all! Your procedure itself will likely only last for an hour or so, and with the right aftercare, you’ll make a speedy recovery.
About the Practice
At DuPont Family Dentistry, our team is happy to accommodate our patients in pain by offering same-day emergency appointments. Drs. John Ludu and Rhenu Sharma also have collective decades of experience that allow us to provide virtually any treatment you may need in-house, including root canals. To learn more or schedule an urgent examination, visit DuPont Family Dentistry’s website or call 253-964-7000.