Failed Dental X-Rays: What To Do When Radiographs Aren’t Enough
April 29, 2024
The Economics of Endodontics: Why Proper Pain Diagnosis is Crucial for Your Practice
April 30, 2024
Key Takeaways:
- While many treatments can be completed in just one visit (95% in my own practice are!), how long root canal procedures take can depend on a variety of factors.
- Some of the most common reasons that root canals may take two visits include dental emergencies, retreatments, severe pain and swelling, and the need for surgical intervention.
- Although it can feel like an inconvenience, as long as you trust your provider, it’s important to trust whatever treatment plan they choose, as their decision is based on what’s best for your health.
Your dentist or endodontist has just informed you that you need a root canal. What now? If you’ve never had one before, one of the questions you may have is “How long does a root canal procedure take?” After all, it’s natural to wonder how much time you’re going to be spending at the dentist, especially when it means taking time off of work or away from your family.
My answer to this question is always: “Well—it depends!”
In many cases (95% of the cases in my own practice), a root canal procedure can be done within a single appointment lasting anywhere between 45 minutes to two hours. But when the case is more complex or involves special circumstances, it can sometimes take two appointments to complete the treatment.
Usually, I tell my patients to expect that their root canal will take two visits, but that I’ll do my best to get it done in one. That way, they can manage their expectations and make necessary arrangements should the procedure take longer. I think it’s always best to be prepared for the worst case scenario!
But is there any way for you to know for certain how long your root canal procedure will take? What exactly determines whether a treatment takes one or two appointments to complete? Let’s run through some different scenarios so you have a better idea of what to expect.
How Long Will My Root Canal Procedure Take?
First and foremost, the time it takes to complete a root canal should depend on the time required to give you the highest quality care possible. Your provider is trying to save your tooth, so it’s not a process you want to rush!
Beyond that, though, the circumstances of your particular situation will determine how long your root canal procedure might take. To help you get a better idea of what to expect when you go in for your treatment, here are a handful of situations where your provider may decide to perform the root canal across two visits rather than one.
1. You’re Experiencing a Dental Emergency
One situation that almost guarantees you’ll be getting your root canal in two visits instead of one is when you’re experiencing a dental emergency and have to see your provider without a scheduled appointment.
While they’ll likely be able to make room in their schedule to begin treating you right away because of your pain level, they won’t use more time than they have to in order to avoid rescheduling other patients. Therefore, more often than not, your provider will do enough of the procedure in the first appointment to reduce your pain to a manageable level before scheduling a follow-up appointment where they can refine it and finish it up.
2. You Need a Retreatment
One important factor behind how long a root canal procedure takes is whether it’s a first-time treatment or a retreatment. Usually, in the case of a retreatment, you’re dealing with a more severe infection or complicated case than a patient who’s getting a root canal for the first time. That means it’s likely going to require more than a single visit to treat.
That said, there are some situations in which a retreatment might not require two visits. For example, if you need a root canal in an anterior tooth (i.e., a front tooth), your provider may try to finish the treatment in a single appointment.
So, while there are some exceptions to the rule that a retreatment requires more than one visit, it’s best to err on the side of caution and expect two appointments if you need to get a tooth re-treated, especially if your provider doesn’t have access to more advanced technology like the GentleWave or dental laser.
3. You’re in a Lot of Pain or Have Severe Swelling
Another situation that calls for an extension to how long a root canal procedure normally takes is when you’re in a lot of pain or have severe swelling. While this may seem counterintuitive, it’s actually to ensure that you get relief from pain as quickly as possible and that your dentist can calm any infection before starting with the root canal treatment.
When I have a patient who’s experiencing high levels of pain, my goal is always to manage the pain ASAP. Because not only do I want to relieve their discomfort, but the pain can also be a sign that the tooth is infected and needs to be dealt with before I can proceed with the root canal.
To get the situation under control, I medicate the tooth with calcium hydroxide, which helps rid the tooth of the bacteria that’s causing the pain and infection. Because this process takes time, it’s often necessary to schedule the root canal procedure across two visits. But I think that’s a pretty good tradeoff to make sure you’re feeling better quickly, right?
4. You May Need Surgical Intervention
It’s not a common scenario, but sometimes a case is so complex that root canal therapy alone just won’t cut it. In these situations, your dentist may have to extend your treatment beyond how long a root canal procedure generally takes in order to account for surgical intervention.
Trust in Your Provider’s Treatment Plan
Even though the thought of having to return to the dental chair more than once can cause some frustration and anxiety, it’s actually a good thing that root canals can be spread across two appointments if necessary. That way, your provider can make sure to give you the best care possible.
So, at the end of the day, if you trust your provider, you should trust in whatever treatment plan they choose for you! Because that decision is based on what they believe is best for your health. Therefore, if they do decide to extend your root canal procedure to two visits, understand that it’s in your best interest, and try to recognize that they’re prioritizing your care above all else.
Know What to Expect by Empowering Yourself Through Education
Wondering how long root canal procedures take is just one of many questions that come up among patients like you. That’s why I created my Empowered Patient course! It’s designed to walk you through everything you need to know about root canals and your dental health so you feel well informed and confident in choosing the treatment plan and provider that are right for you.
– Sonia
