The root canal treatment procedure. / Should you expect pain or discomfort after endodontic therapy?

Once the tooth has been thoroughly cleaned your dentist can fill in and seal up its interior by way of placing root canal filling material. Sometimes a dentist will want to place the filling material the same day that they have cleaned the tooth out. Other times a dentist might feel that it is best to wait about a week before completing the root canal process. In the latter case your dentist will place a temporary filling in your tooth so to keep contaminates out during the time period between your appointments.

What root canal filling material is used?

The most common root canal filling material being used by dentists nowadays is a rubber compound called gutta percha. Gutta percha comes in preformed cones that are sized to match the files which have been used to clean out the inside of the tooth.

A root canal sealer (a paste) is usually used in conjunction with gutta percha cones. It is either applied to the cone's surface before the cone is placed into the tooth's root canal, or else applied inside the root canal itself before the gutta percha cone is positioned. Sometimes several cones of gutta percha need to be placed before the interior of the tooth has been filled adequately.

At times a dentist will warm the gutta percha cones (either before or after they are placed into the tooth) so they become softened. This allows the gutta percha to more closely adapt to the precise shape of the interior of the tooth.

As an alternative to the use of preformed cones, sometimes a dentist will place the gutta percha via the use of a gutta percha "gun." This apparatus is somewhat similar to a hot glue gun. It warms a tube of gutta percha so the material is very soft. The gutta percha is then squeezed out into the tooth.

After your dentist has finished the filling and sealing aspect of the root canal process they will place a filling in the access hole they created at the beginning of your treatment. The individual steps of performing the root canal treatment have now been completed.

---

How long does root canal treatment take?

The total amount of appointment time that will be required for your root canal treatment can hinge on a number of factors. Some of these are:

Different teeth have differing numbers of root canals, each of which need to be located, cleaned, and sealed. As an example, front teeth typically just have a single root canal while molars often have three or more canals. Will your root canal treatment be completed in just one sitting or will the process be broken up into two appointments? At times a dentist will feel it is best to clean out a tooth during an initial visit and then have you return for a second appointment when they will seal up the interior of your tooth. Equally commonplace, a dentist may feel that it is preferable to perform both tasks during the same appointment. [ More about why just one or possibly more visits might be needed to complete your root canal treatment. >> ]

You will have to ask your dentist what amount of time is needed for your treatment. As a ballpark estimate however, it seems likely that any single appointment will last somewhere between 30 to 60 minutes and in some cases possibly as long as 90 minutes.

---

What should be expected after root canal treatment?

Will there be any pain or discomfort after your root canal treatment has been performed?

The hope is that after your root canal treatment you will notice very little discomfort with your tooth. It can be common that for the first day or so after its treatment a tooth might feel a little tender. Whenever you have a question, in all cases, you should feel free to contact your dentist's office just to ensure that what you are experiencing seems to them to be within normal limits.

A tooth's sensitivity can often be minimized by using an over-the-counter analgesic, especially one that also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) can be an effective choice for this type of discomfort. Of course you should always read the label, indications, and warnings of any product you anticipate using so to insure that it is an appropriate drug for you.

Should you chew on a tooth that has just had root canal treatment?

Don't look for trouble. It is usually best to exercise caution with a tooth that is undergoing root canal treatment or has just had its treatment completed. Until your dentist tells you otherwise you should minimize chewing on the tooth. Here are some reasons why:

• In those cases where more than one root canal treatment appointment is needed the temporary filling that has been placed in your tooth might come out. If it does, saliva and debris will contaminate the interior of the tooth again. Your dentist will have to spend your next root canal appointment cleaning your tooth out a second time.
  
  
• Sometimes, since the tooth receiving the root canal treatment feels so much better, a person is eager to make use of their tooth again. Until your dentist has had a chance to finish rebuilding your tooth it should be considered to be fragile. What a disappointment it would be to spend the time, effort, and money to have root canal treatment performed, only to have the tooth break or crack irreparably before it was fully restored.