On average, a root canal treatment takes under one hour to complete. Most procedures take between 30 minutes to 60 minutes. It is not unusual for a patient to sit in the dentist's chair for about 90 minutes during the root canal appointment.
The entire root canal procedure may take place in one sitting, or at times 2 or 3 sessions depending on the condition of the tooth. Each sitting may last between 30 - 90 minutes.
Quick answer: The average root canal treatment is 30 to 60 minutes long. More complex cases may take around 90 minutes.
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.
For most patients, root canal recovery only takes a few days. You'll probably experience some mild soreness for the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, but taking over-the-counter pain medication or applying a cold compress should be enough to manage it.
Does a root canal hurt? Since patients are given anesthesia, a root canal isn't more painful than a regular dental procedure, such as a filling or getting a wisdom tooth removed. However, a root canal is generally a bit sore or numb after the procedure, and can even cause mild discomfort for a few days.
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.
Two to four hours after the root canal
During a root canal procedure, the dentist or endodontist will numb your mouth. This can take two to four hours to wear off. It is recommended to wait to eat until it does. If you try to eat when things are still numb, you could bite your inner cheek or tongue.
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.
If you wait to have a root canal, you're only providing that infection more time to gain strength and spread. Infection can spread from the tooth into the bloodstream, and then you have a much more serious issue than a common and routine dental practice.
You must undergo a root canal within a few weeks to fully eliminate the infection and save your tooth.
The number one root canal recovery tip is to get as much rest as possible. Your body is trying to heal and getting an adequate amount of sleep will help you get back to your normal routine asap. When sleeping, make sure to elevate your head in order to minimize the pain from your recently treated dental tooth.
Root canals can take as little as 15 minutes and up to one hour.
While many people are daunted by the thought of root canal treatment, the fact is this treatment is usually no more painful than having a filling or other dental treatment performed. Plus, as your tooth will be numbed with an anaesthetic before the treatment, you won't feel any pain during your procedure.
Avoid chewing sticky foods (especially gum). Avoid biting hard foods and hard substances, such as ice, fingernails and pencils. If possible, chew only on the opposite side of your mouth. It's normal to experience some discomfort for several days after a root canal therapy appointment, especially when chewing.
You can eat 30 to 45 minutes after a root canal, which is enough time to allow your temporary filling to fully harden, but it's generally recommended that patients wait to eat until after the anesthetic has worn off to prevent you from biting your cheek or tongue.
Avoid alcohol and tobacco for a full 24 hours before the procedure. During the procedure, the dentist will inject the gums with a local anesthetic, and it may have an adverse reaction to tobacco and alcohol.
The maxillary molars, especially the second molars, have the most complicated root canal system in permanent dentition. There are many variations in canal number and configuration in maxillary molars. Treatment may be unsuccessful because the dentist may fail to recognize the unusual canal configuration.
Molar teeth present more problems during endodontic therapy than do bicuspid or anterior teeth. The major reasons for this are that molars can have complicated canal systems with unexpectedly large numbers of teeth with four canals, and they often have quite curved canals, which are more difficult to prepare and fill.
If the deepest layers of the pulp become infected, it may be too late to save the tooth. In addition, if a large portion of the tooth is lost and a crown cannot be placed on what's left, root canal treatment is no longer a viable solution.
Everyone's tolerance for pain is different, so there is no set timeline for how long root canal pain lasts. In most cases, patients will experience mild discomfort or pain for the first few days after treatment. Generally, the pain is short-lived as long as the patient uses proper dental hygiene.
After root canal the treatment, what next; as the numbness begins to wear off, your mouth will feel heavy, and you might also feel drowsy and sleepy, this is normal.
You can expect mild to moderate pain for a few days after a root canal. Any discomfort beyond a few days might require additional cleaning of the canals or other procedures from your dentist.