Depending on the amount of infection in your tooth, root canal therapy may require one or two appointments. On average, a root canal takes about 30 to 60 minutes to complete. If you are having treatment on a larger tooth with multiple roots, it can take up to an hour and a half.
Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth. Root canal treatment is not painful and can save a tooth that might otherwise have to be removed completely.
The root canal procedure is completed in two separate visits to ensure that the tooth is thoroughly cleaned out, sealed up, and protected from further damage.
You will remain awake and conscious throughout the root canal but will feel very relaxed. Another common option, conscious oral sedation, is a prescribed sedative pill that you will take before your appointment. It will help you to greatly relax during your procedure.
In most cases, simple root canals require just one appointment lasting between 30 minutes to just over an hour. However, severe cases may demand 90 minutes or more, or even a second appointment if the dentist or endodontist recommends a permanent filling or crown for the tooth.
In most cases, patients require only a few days to recover from a root canal procedure. After the procedure, the patient may feel some irritation or soreness for the first 24 to 48 hours. To manage this pain and soreness, your dentist will prescribe over-the-counter pain medication.
A root canal will numb your tooth for up to four hours. If you have any discomfort during the first 24 to 48 hours after the surgery, an anti-inflammatory pain reliever may reduce your discomfort. A typical recommendation for healing time is to allow three full days for recovery, mild discomfort, and sensitivity.
Can I drive myself home after a root canal? Yes, if you had no sedation for your root canal treatment or only nitrous oxide, you will be able to drive yourself home in most cases. Patients who have conscious oral sedation will need to have someone drive them to and from their appointment.
Patients should plan to rest the day of their root canal procedure, and most can return to work the very next day. Our bodies need proper healing time, and this time can vary between patients. In most cases we recommend patients can return to work the day after their root canal procedure.
The need for a crown is typically determined by the amount of remaining tooth structure after a root canal. Generally, if more than half of the tooth is gone, a crown is indicated to restore the tooth's structural integrity.
Is the second visit for a root canal painful? Not at all. During this visit, you have just completed a course of antibiotics, and your dentist has removed most of the infection within the tooth structure.
Antibiotics are not absolutely necessary after a root canal. After a root canal, you need very little time to recover, and post-operative care is the best way for fast healing. However, a dentist may recommend antibiotics before root canal to improve the chances of a successful outcome.
Because you will be fully numb during treatment, it is unlikely that you will experience pain. The primary sensation most patients feel is pressure as the tooth root cavity is cleaned.
After a root canal procedure, you can eat and drink normally, including alcohol, once the numbness wears off.
Keep your head elevated and don't eat right away
To keep this under control and minimise the pain, try to keep your head elevated and avoid lying down as much as possible. It's also worth adding another pillow so that your head's a little elevated while you sleep for the first few days.
Swelling
You may experience some mild swelling around the treated tooth or in your face for a day or two after your root canal. New swelling or swelling that persists, though, could mean that your root canal failed.
Postoperative discomfort is sometimes experienced after root canal treatment. This is due to irritation of the bone surrounding the tooth and may range from mild discomfort in the area to an occasional episode of considerable pain. This discomfort will usually maximize in approximately 48-72 hours and then subside.
A successful root canal can cause mild pain for a few days. This is temporary, and should go away on its own as long as you practice good oral hygiene. You should see your dentist for a follow-up if the pain lasts longer than three days.
Three to five days after your procedure, the pain should be gone. General discomfort around the tooth may last a few weeks and be most obvious when flossing, brushing, or eating. In limited cases patients may experience persistent post-operative discomfort.
After your procedure wait until the numbness in your mouth wears off before eating so you won't bite your cheek or tongue. Don't chew or bite down on the treated tooth until it is fully restored by a dentist to avoid damaging it.
Many people are afraid they'll have tooth pain after root canal therapy. However, because the source of infection is removed during the procedure, most people find immediate relief following treatment.