If you’ve got a painful infected or cracked tooth, you’re probably eager to get it fixed and begin healing. But in order to do that, you may need a root canal procedure. While this treatment can help alleviate pain in your tooth extremely quickly, it still may take your dentist a bit of time to complete it. Here’s how long you can expect your root canal to take, and what you can expect to happen during the procedure.
What is a Root Canal?
A root canal is a procedure that is performed by your dentist to repair an infected tooth. First, he will drill open the tooth and remove the infected pulp from the root canals throughout it. Next, he’ll replace the pulp with a synthetic material called gutta percha. This prevents the infection from returning and supports the structure of the tooth. Next, he will close the tooth back up with either a filling or a dental crown. If you need a crown, you will get a temporary one and will need to return in one to two weeks to have the permanent one attached once it is delivered by the lab.
How Long Will My Root Canal Take?
The duration of your root canal depends on several factors, including the location of the tooth and the severity of the infection. If your tooth is badly infected, you may need to return several times to complete treatment. If it’s able to be repaired in one appointment, your procedure could take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes.
How Long is Recovery from a Root Canal?
Recovery from a root canal should only take a few days. You will likely begin to feel immediate relief after the procedure, because the infected pulp is no longer there to cause inflammation. Following your treatment, you should plan on taking the rest of the day off from school or work, and plan on skipping the gym or any heavy physical activity for the next few days. Your tooth should feel a little better each day. If for any reason it begins to feel worse, or if you develop a fever, please contact your dentist immediately. If you have been using a temporary crown, you can return to work immediately after having your permanent crown attached.
Root Canal Aftercare
After your root canal, you should be able to use your tooth just as you did before the infection. While you may need to wait a few days for any discomfort to go away, you should be able to brush it and floss it as usual. If you have a crown or temporary crown, be very careful not to get your dental floss caught underneath it. If you are experiencing any sensitivity or pain, you can take prescription or OTC pain reliever or hold ice on your face over the treated tooth. If you feel sensitivity with your temporary crown, it should go away once the permanent crown is attached.
Once your tooth is healed, you can continue using it to chew a full variety of healthy and delicious foods, and with proper brushing and flossing, it should remain healthy and secure for a lifetime.
About Our Practice
At Frandsen Dental of West Jordan, our talented team of dentists is proud work together to collaborate on your care on your next root canal. Root canal treatments get a bad rap in Hollywood as being painful and scary, but the truth is they’re actually pain relieving, and they allow you to preserve your natural teeth. If you have a cracked tooth or tooth infection, treating it as soon as possible is important. To schedule an appointment for a root canal, please visit our website or call us today at 801-890-0300.