With root canals treatment, dental problems such as one in which the blood vessels and nerves containing the dental pulp have been impaired by infection or injury. Although most people see a root canal as the solution of choice the remedy their dental issues, many people still have questions about how the procedure is carried out as well as how it works.

Root canal procedures typically comprise two visits or more (sometimes). Root canals take two visits to ensure that the tooth is carefully cleaned, sealed, and secured from future damages. However, the precise number of visits to complete a root canal procedure depends on its complications and your situation. We have highlighted a short overview of things that may happen during each step.

Kindly scroll down and continue reading to learn more:

1. The First Visit

The first visit to your root canal treatment focuses on getting rid of damaged and infected tissues in the affected tooth. Here;

• Your endodontist will examine the state of the tooth via an X-ray.
• A local anesthetic will be used to numb the area around the affected tooth.
• After that, they will place a dental barrier to help keep the tooth free of saliva and pretty dry.
• Your endodontist will then drill a hole on the top of the tooth. This hole is to give them access to the pulp.
• Lastly, intensive cleaning is carried out using special tools that scrape infected materials and pulp away from the canal’s walls.
• Occasionally, your endodontist will rinse the canals using a cleaning solution to remove dirt.

It takes many endodontists up to a week to complete the root canal. If perhaps, your tooth had an infection, they may treat you with medications. A temporary filling will be placed to further prevent contaminants – this is done before you leave.

The office of your endodontist will also confirm your second visit. Now, let’s talk about the second visit.

2. The Second Visit

The second visit to your root canal treatment is majorly to carry out the process of filling and sealing. Here;

• Your endodontist will fill your canal that is being treated with gutta-percha or other types of biocompatible material.
• Secondly, the access hold that was initially created during the fourth stage in your first visit is permanently covered using a permanent filling.

Reasons for the second visit

Aside from closing the access hole and the gutta-percha treatment, a second visit can be needed for the following reasons:

• Calcified canals
• An obstacle in the canal that disallows the dentist from accessing the end of the canal
• Extra canals may cause the dentist to pay more attention to the treatment which happens in special situations.
• If the tooth is infected.

Here, additional time may be required for the infection to clear completely. This may sometimes be aided by placing medicine that encourages the clearing and healing of the infection – the dentist does this. When the infection must have disappeared, your dentist may then resume treatment.

Some Facts About Root Canal

1. A root canal treated is susceptible to changing color over time. In cases like this, a crown may be needed.
2. A tooth that has undergone a root canal is prone to fractures. This means that your tooth will need additional protection. This is another reason why a crown is recommended to increase its longevity.
3. In a tooth that is single-rooted, after a root canal, if inflammation continues at the tip of the root, surgery is usually performed to get rid of the infection, clean the affected area, and fill the root with filling.
4. Although root canal treatment is often very successful and can last a long time, in some cases – due to re-infection – the root canal treatment may be repeated.

Conclusion

Root canals are required when there is damage in the tooth that has gone past the out layers of the enamel into the pulp, therefore causing damage to the internal nerve of the tooth. This isn’t a challenge that should be overlooked. Whether you need to get a root canal treatment, implant, or other dental procedures, you will find the Family Dentists at Highland Park useful. We hope you now have sufficient information on the reason why a root canal takes two visits. Contact Lasting Smiles of Highland Park to schedule your appointment or call at (732)777-9077.