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How Long Does a Root Canal Take?

Family and Cosmetic Dentist Located in Brooklyn, NY

If you are experiencing symptoms of a root canal or have been told you need one, call Broadway Family Dental today and schedule an appointment with the top-rated dentist in New York. Dr. Ella Dekhtyar offers restorative dentistry treatments for patients, including pain-free root canals. She focuses on healing the infection affecting your tooth root to preserve your tooth and ensures you do not have to suffer pain any longer. She also discusses how long the treatment will last, what the procedure involves, and what you can do to ensure the best outcomes for your dental health.

A root canal is a pulp chamber inside a tooth. It contains pulp, nerves, and blood vessels that connect your tooth to the bone and gums. Every tooth has a root canal, and some have more than one. You may need a root canal treatment if bacteria inside the mouth have invaded the pulp inside your tooth and caused inflammation and pain.

Once a tooth begins to experience decay, the issue must be treated as soon as possible. The longer the decay is allowed to continue, the more pain and infection it can cause.

Read on to find out what a root canal is, when it becoWhat Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a dental procedure that helps preserve the natural tooth by getting rid of the damage in the tooth’s root and filling and sealing it. When the dental pulp of a tooth becomes damaged or begins to deteriorate, it can cause painful pus-filled pockets, also known as abscesses.

With the help of a root canal, the dentist removes the inflamed or infected pulp, carefully cleans and shapes the inside of the root canal, and fills and seals the space to save the tooth. If left untreated, the infection can spread to other teeth or areas of the mouth, resulting in extreme symptoms, pain, or even tooth extraction, if the damage is beyond control.

Root Canal Procedure

What Causes a Tooth to Get Infected?

Some common causes of root canal infections include:

  • Dental decay or cavities that reach under the enamel layer and spread into the pulp chamber
  • Dental damage, like chips and cracks, expose the inner layer of your tooth, allowing harmful bacteria to infect the tooth pulp
  • Dental trauma, even if there are no visible signs
  • Repeated dental treatments for a tooth

How Would You Know if Your Tooth Needs a Root Canal?

There are some signs and symptoms that indicate you may need a root canal:

  • Tooth pain that is persistent or comes and goes repeatedly
  • Sensitivity to hot and cold
  • Tooth discoloration
  • Swollen gums
  • Pain when you touch or chew on the tooth
  • Chips or cracks on your tooth

If you are having any of these symptoms, it is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist for professional advice. The doctor will examine your teeth, look for cavities or infections, and recommend the best treatment. Infection in its early stages may not cause any of these symptoms. Your dentist may detect infection during a routine visit and recommend the right treatment.

Root Canal Procedure – What Does It Involve?

A root canal procedure consists of several steps. The dentist removes the infection from within the tooth, disinfects the inside, and fills and seals the pulp chamber to protect it from further damage.

Here is what you can expect with a root canal process:

  • The dentist will begin by numbing the entire area surrounding the tooth to ensure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure.
  • Next, a tiny opening is created in the tooth so the dentist can access the pulp chamber.
  • The dentist will carefully remove the infection and the decayed pulp from the tooth root.
  • The inside of your tooth is thoroughly disinfected and rinsed to ensure it is clean of all bacterial presence. If needed, the dentist may also place medication inside the tooth to kill off infection and schedule another appointment to complete the treatment.
  • The root canal will be filled and sealed with a high-quality resin to prevent reinfection and reinforce the structure of your tooth.

Your dentist may recommend a dental crown to protect your tooth from breaking and restore its function. He will take an impression of your tooth and send it to the laboratory to create a customized crown that fits over your newly treated tooth and looks like a natural tooth. Once this procedure is done, your restored tooth will function like any other tooth.

How Long Does a Root Canal Take?

A root canal takes a little longer than routine filling because, in addition to anesthesia, set-up, and preparation the entire tooth is carved out, rinsed, disinfected, and sealed, which requires time.

The length of time a root canal takes depends on several factors:

  • How many roots does your tooth have
  • The number of canals that need cleaning
  • The severity of the infection
  • The type of tooth that needs treatment

In most cases, simple root canals just require one or two visits, and each visit can vary between 30 to 90 minutes on average. Sometimes, you may need another appointment if the dentist recommends a permanent filling or a crown for the tooth.

Here is a quick breakdown of the average time it takes for each tooth:

  • Molars – It takes about 90 minutes or more to perform a root canal on molars. Molars are located in the back of your mouth and have up to four roots.
  • Premolars – It takes about 60 minutes to perform a root canal on premolars. Premolars are between your molars and anterior teeth and have one or two roots.
  • Canines and incisors – It takes around 45 to 60 minutes as these teeth have only one root.

If your tooth needs a dental crown, it can increase the treatment time. The dentist will ensure your tooth has completely healed before placing the crown on it, which may take another one or two appointments.

Is a Root Canal Painful?

A root canal is a major dental procedure, and you may experience slight discomfort once the effects of anesthesia wear off, just as you would with a dental filling. However, it is not painful as your dentist numbs the tooth and its surrounding area for the procedure. Slight pain and discomfort can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication that also keeps the inflammation down.

Remember, the real pain comes from not getting your infected and decayed tooth treated timely.
An untreated infected tooth can result in agonizing pain and an emergency root canal. Many patients who were having intense tooth pain before treatment claim that the procedure actually eased their pain and made them feel better.

Are Root Canals Necessary?

Unlike other parts of the body, teeth do not heal themselves, especially when they become infected. If left untreated, infection and inflammation can spread to other tissues, teeth, or even areas of your mouth. A root canal is the only way to preserve a natural tooth, as neither dental cleaning nor fillings can remove all the damaged pulp successfully.

Extracting the entire tooth is the only alternative to a root canal. However, extractions are expensive, involved, and time-consuming and can be more painful. Also, to maintain proper oral function and aesthetics, you may need to go for an implant, crown, or bridge, which can be costly.

Root canals sound scarier than they are and take less time than you think. The team of expert doctors at Broadway Family Dental is committed to making your experience as convenient, comfortable, and painless as possible. Our board-certified dentist, Dr. Ella Dekhtyar provides the highest quality dental care and ensures you get the best root canal treatment in the shortest possible time. She knows how persistent tooth pain and other irritating symptoms can affect your life and work and helps you enjoy strong and healthy teeth for lifetime.

Page Updated on Nov 25, 2024 by Dr. Dekhtyar (Dentist) of Broadway Family Dental

Broadway Family Dental
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(Bushwick, Williamsburg, Bedford-Stuyvesant)
(718) 455-4400

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