The process of removing infected or damaged pulp from a tooth is known as root canal therapy. This procedure is often necessary for protecting your oral health and avoiding an extraction. Before you have this treatment performed, though, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what to expect. Here’s a brief look at the root canal procedure – as well as how long you can typically expect it to take.
What Happens During Root Canal Therapy?
After applying a local anesthetic to help you stay comfortable, your dentist will create a small opening in your tooth. This lets them get to the chamber where the pulp – the collection of connective tissues inside the tooth – is located. The pulp will be removed, and the inside of the tooth will be cleaned. Then, once the now-empty space has been refilled, all that’s left is to rebuild the tooth with a crown.
How Long Does Root Canal Therapy Take?
This can be a tricky question to answer since it depends on the situation. If only a single tooth needs to be treated, root canal therapy can often be completed in about an hour. However, the procedure may take longer than that if the tooth in question is a molar, which has more roots that need to be cleaned.
Furthermore, while root canal therapy can often be completed in just one visit, some patients might require multiple appointments if the infection in the tooth is particularly severe. To reduce the chances of further inflammation between visits, the dentist may place a disinfectant medication in the tooth.
What About Recovery?
In addition to the timeline for the actual treatment, you likely also want to know how long recovery can be expected to take. For many people, the discomfort should fade after 6 to 10 days. However, some patients only experience soreness for a couple of days. Remember, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can often be used to manage the pain.
You can help make sure that the recovery process stays on schedule by:
- Eating only soft foods for at least the first few days.
- Brushing two times a day and flossing daily.
- Staying away from alcohol for at least the first 24 hours. (Alcohol can increase bleeding and make swelling worse.)
If 10 days have already passed and there’s still serious discomfort in the tooth that was treated, you need to call your dentist right away; something may have gone wrong during recovery.
No matter how long the root canal process takes, the result will be the same: a tooth that’s no longer in pain or at risk of needing to be removed later. If your dentist tells you that a root canal is necessary, make sure you have it performed as soon as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Mohammad Golparvar graduated from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine. He has close to two decades of dental experience, and he always keeps an eye on the latest advancements so that he can keep improving his services. He offers same-day emergency appointments and can save infected teeth with root canal therapy. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Golparvar at Webster Dental Associates of Manchester, visit his website or call (603) 669-4252.