Root Canal Treatment, Having a Root Canal
The dentist carries out the root canal treatment using a local anesthetic so you don’t feel pain and the process is a comfortable experience for you. After you are numbed, the dentist will drill into your tooth to make a hole into the canal that holds the infected root. Once into the canal, it is cleaned out and is rid of all infection. Medication is placed in the canal to be sure that no infection remains.
Next, the dentist will fill up the canal with a material called Gutta-Percah which is a rubber-like substance that is FDA approved for dental procedures.
After the canal is filled, the area is filled with tiny cotton pellets and then covered with a temporary crown. The temporary will stay in place until the tooth has recovered, which takes 2 to 3 weeks. During this time, a permanent crown will be created for you.
After the recovery period, a permanent crown will be cemented over the remaining tooth.
Most root canals require two visits: one for the canal procedure and one for the crown procedure. However, sometimes the canal procedure can take longer due to the issues with the tooth and the tooth’s makeup.