How Many Visits Does A Root Canal Usually Take?

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root canal visits

If your dentist told you that you need a root canal, you might feel a little nervous. That’s okay! A root canal is a common dental treatment that helps save your natural tooth when it gets infected or damaged. Many people wonder how many visits a root canal takes or what happens during the treatment

How Many Appointments for a Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental treatment used to save a tooth that has an infected or inflamed inside part of the tooth, known as the pulp. The pulp is the soft part inside your tooth, and it contains nerves and blood vessels. When the pulp becomes infected, it can be very painful.

Many patients have been able to get through a root canal in just one visit! This is often the case if the infection or inflammation doesn’t seem too bad and the tooth is not causing you too many problems. The dentist will sometimes clean the infection and fill the tooth on the same visit.

For other patients, the procedures will require two visits. This often happens when a person has a very infected tooth or abscess, or if there is a lot of swelling from the infection. In this situation, the first visit will often involve cleaning the infection and placing some type of medicine in the tooth. This is often called the first stage. You would then return for the second visit to have the tooth filled and sealed by a trusted dentist in SW Calgary.

Root Canal Procedure Steps

Let’s talk about what happens during a root canal, whether it’s one visit or two.

  1. Numbing the Area: First, the dentist will numb your tooth and the area around it. You won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
  2. Making a Small Opening: The dentist will then make a small opening on the top of your tooth.
  3. Cleaning the Inside: Next, tiny tools are used to clean out all the infected or damaged pulp from inside the tooth. The dentist will make sure everything is super clean.
  4. Medicine (if needed): If it’s a two-visit root canal, the dentist might put some special medicine inside your tooth and put a temporary filling on top. This medicine helps kill any remaining germs.
  5. Filling the Canals: Once the tooth is clean and free of infection, the dentist will fill the inside of the roots with a rubber-like material. This material seals the roots to prevent new infections.
  6. Sealing the Tooth: Finally, a filling is placed on top of your tooth to seal the opening that was made. Sometimes, a crown (a cap) is placed over the tooth after a root canal to protect it and make it strong. This is especially true for back teeth that do a lot of chewing.

If you need safe and gentle root canal treatment in SW Calgary, your dentist will guide you through each step to keep your tooth healthy.

Number of Visits for Root Canal Treatment

So, why the difference in visits? It really depends on how complicated your tooth’s situation is. A healthy tooth that just needs a quick fix might be done in one visit. A tooth with a big, stubborn infection might need two. Your dentist will tell you what’s best for your specific tooth.

How Long Does a Root Canal Take?

A single root canal appointment usually takes about 60 to 90 minutes. If it’s a more complex case or requires two visits, each visit will be around that time. The good news is that with modern dental techniques and numbing medicine, root canals are much more comfortable than they used to be.

Root Canal Treatment Timeline

After your root canal, your tooth might feel a little sensitive for a few days, but this usually goes away quickly. It’s important to take care of your tooth after the procedure, just like you would any other tooth. Brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups will help keep your treated tooth healthy for many years to come.

In short, a root canal can often be done in one visit, but sometimes two are needed. Your dentist will explain everything and make sure you understand the steps involved in saving your tooth.

Save Your Natural Tooth with Root Canal Therapy!

At Richmond Dental Clinic, we offer safe and gentle root canal therapy to help save your natural tooth and stop pain. Our dental team uses simple steps and modern tools to clean and protect your teeth. We care for kids, teens, and adults in a friendly and calm setting.

Don’t wait for the pain to get worse. Call Richmond Dental Clinic today!

587-315-6792