What is a root canal?
The dentist will remove the damaged tissue and seal the tooth so that it does not come in contact with bacteria. This procedure is common at dental clinic. The procedure takes 90 minutes to 3 hours. In some cases, the dentist can ask you to visit for another dental appointment. The total time will depend on different factors that include the severity of the infection, and the tooth that is affected.
Who needs a root canal?
The tooth has pulp that has a living tissue inside that root that connects to the gums and bones. It has blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves. With the root canal, your natural tooth can be saved while cleaning the damaged tissue or disease tissue.
If you do not get a root canal, the tooth infection can spread along the gum line to the teeth. Also, it can make them black or yellow, and dental infections become serious and spread to other areas with the help of blood.
In most cases, a person can have pain. Getting the root canal can be temporarily uncomfortable but this is a better alternative than dealing with the severe side effects.
What is the root canal procedure?
- With local anesthesia, the affected area is numbed where the teeth need to be treated.
- The dentist will drill a small hole in the mouth with the use of sterilized equipment. The inside area will be cleaned, and the damaged or infected tissues removed.
- The inside of the tooth needs to be rinsed, and medication may be placed inside the tooth to kill the bacteria.
- The dentist takes different X-rays to make sure the root is clean.
- If you are returning to get the procedure completed or get a dental crown, then temporary material is filled in the tooth. If the procedure is done in one appointment, then permanent restoration can be used.
How long does the root canal procedure take
For a simple root canal procedure, it needs 30 and 60 minutes. But, make sure you prepare yourself to spend at least 90 minutes in the dentist’s chair.
The procedure takes significant time because the nerves are carved out, rinsed, and the infected area is removed. In some cases, there is a need for just one pulp canal, and some need multiple of them. To set-up the entire procedure it takes several minutes.
Why are two visits required for a root canal?
In some cases, the root canal might need two visits the dental clinic, and this depends on the tooth. During the first visit, the infected or damaged tissues are removed. The entire process takes time and is done with care. In the tooth, antibacterial medication is placed temporarily. After the initial appointment, the patient does not feel pain.
Second appointments need cleaning and removing the infected tissues and sealing the tooth with a permanent material. The permanent sealing can be a crown also.