HOW LONG DOES A ROOT CANAL TAKE?

What exactly is a root canal? The root canal winston salem north carolina procedure is a treatment used by a dentist when the center of the tooth, the root, is damaged or diseased and needs to be removed. While it may seem a bit scary, the procedure will alleviate the pain caused by an infected tooth and will stop the infection from getting worse. If your dentist has mentioned you may need a root canal in the future, you may be wondering how long the procedure takes and what you should expect. Below is more detailed information on the root canal procedure and how long you can expect it to take. Root canal procedures usually occur over one or two dental visits. The goal of the root canal procedure is for the dentist to help preserve the natural tooth as best as possible. The approach chosen by the dentist is selected with the goal in mind.

The two-visit procedure

In general, for the two-visit approach the two clinic visits are scheduled within one week. In general, a two-visit approach is best for a damaged or diseased molar, which may have more than one root to be cleaned out and will take longer to treat.

• Visit #1: During the first visit, a small opening will be made in the tooth and the infected root will be removed. Where this opening is made depends on which tooth is damaged or diseased and in need of treatment. This opening allows the damaged or infected root to be accessed. Once the hole is made with a drill, the infected tissue at the root of the tooth will be cleaned out with a small file. The dentist will spend time to make sure all of the infected tissue is removed.
• Visit #2: During the second visit, a permanent filling will be placed in the tooth. Once the filling is placed and the tooth is sealed, the treated tooth will remain durable and strong, just like a natural tooth.

The one-visit root canal

Due to the way the procedure has changed over the years, and the new technology available, the one-visit root canal has become more common.

• Visit #1: In one visit the dentist will create an opening in the tooth, remove the diseased pulp, and set a permanent filling in the tooth (as described in visit 1 and 2 above). With this approach the patient will leave the dentist with a strong and healthy natural tooth that is no longer infected or damaged. Depending on how much work is needed, completing all of the steps of the procedure can be long and physically tiring for the patient.

Which approach is best for you?

Which approach is the best fit really depends on how severe the infection is in the tooth, which tooth needs to be treated, and discretion of the dentist. If you are in need a root canal the best first step is to have a discussion with your dentist, express your concerns and ask any questions you have.

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