How Long Does It Take to Get Root Canal Treatment?

You might not be looking forward to your root canal treatment, but the good news is that it isn’t going to be painful like the procedure is portrayed in movies. With modern dental techniques and anesthetics, you shouldn’t feel a think. However, if you have a busy schedule, you may be wondering how much time your treatment will take out of your day. There are a few different factors that contribute to the length of your procedure. Read on to learn what you can expect.

How Long Does Root Canal Treatment Take?

To plan the rest of your day, it’s important to know how long your treatment will take. The biggest factor that will contribute to this is where the tooth is located in your mouth. Here is what you can generally expect.

• Anterior: If you need a root canal on one of the front six teeth on the top or bottom of your mouth, it will likely take about an hour.
• Premolar: For premolars, a little more time is often necessary. It will probably take between 1-1.5 hours until your treatment is complete.
• Molar: For the teeth in the back of the mouth, your treatment will take a bit longer because these teeth have more roots. Usually, this will take anywhere from 1.5-2 hours.
• Retreatment: If you’ve already had a root canal and need retreatment, the length of your procedure can vary significantly. You should ask your dentist for additional details so you can book your appointment accordingly.

What Happens During Root Canal Treatment?

You know that your root canal is necessary, but what exactly is going on within your tooth? Here are the main steps of this procedure.

1. Anesthesia: To ensure a comfortable treatment, your dentist needs to numb the area with a local anesthetic. This is done with an injection.
2. Cleaning the Roots: Your dentist will make an opening in the tooth to access the root canal. Then, they will clean out the area. An antibacterial and antiseptic solution is used to disinfect the canal.
3. Shaping: The root canals will be shaped with tiny dental instruments.
4. Filling: Your dentist will fill the root canals. Then, the rest of the tooth is filled and sealed.
5. Dental Crown: In many cases, a dental crown is placed over a root canal-treated tooth. This helps to prevent the tooth from becoming damaged later on.

If your tooth canal treatment is coming up, you don’t have anything to worry about. With a little bit of patience, you can show off a healthy smile in just a matter of time!

About the Practice

At Advanced Dental Center, Dr. Glenn Shtarkman and Dr. Caroline Salib work together to treat patients in the Parma Heights community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything you need under one roof. To learn more about root canal treatment or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (440) 885-5354.