What Happens During Endodontic Treatment? or What is a Root Canal?
Endodontic treatment usually feels similar to a cavity filling procedure, except it takes a longer time, usually 1 to 2 hours.
A local anesthetic will be given. A sheet of latex called the "rubber dam" (we have non-latex as well) will be placed around the tooth to isolate it, thereby keeping it clean and dry during treatment. The treatment consists of accessing the pulpal space, cleansing the canal system of all diseased tissues, shaping the canals so they can be properly filled, filling the canal space with specially designed materials, and placing temporary or permanent restoration to seal the access space.
The number of visits you make will depend on the degree of infection/inflammation and the degree of difficulty of treatment. Some treatments require two visits, and occasionally, three appointments are needed. But most of the time, only one visit is necessary. To us, it is more important to do the very best possible job than meet a specific time restriction.
After completion of treatment, you will be instructed to return to your dentist for permanent restoration of the tooth. This is a vital component of treatment because it protects the tooth from breaking and prevents reinfection by the process of sealing the canal space from the oral environment. As a general rule, you will have to see your dentist within a couple of weeks after root canal treatment is finished.