Elmira Endodontist
Root Canal Procedure Length

Aside from the anticipated pain of the root canal procedure itself – people are most concerned about the cost. It’s difficult to give exact fees up front because we must first make a diagnosis and determine which tooth is affected. It’s also important to know if there’s been a previous root canal. Are we redoing something, or are we performing a surgery? Although fees vary based on the specifics of your case, the cost of replacing your tooth is usually greater than the cost of helping you save it.

Most root canal or root canal surgery procedures are completed within an hour to an hour and a half. Almost all procedures require only one visit unless we feel that you would benefit from a quick 20 or 30-minute follow-up appointment. If you are worried about your root canal procedure length, do not hesitate to call our Elmira office.

Sometimes a person who is not having trouble with their teeth needs a root canal. Most of us would prefer not to have work done unless we’re suffering. But an infected tooth may not necessarily show any symptoms. A persistent problem may become a chronic issue without your being aware of it until it becomes a larger problem. If you have swelling or a great deal of pain, your dentist will send you to us to fix your infection problem.

Sometimes a person who is not having trouble with their teeth needs a root canal. Most of us would prefer not to have work done unless we’re suffering. But an infected tooth may not necessarily show any symptoms. A persistent problem may become a chronic issue without your being aware of it until it becomes a larger problem. If you have swelling or a great deal of pain, your dentist will send you to us to fix your infection problem.

When you come in to see us because of a tooth-related issue, our main concern is your best options. We try to establish a healthy state for your tooth and enable you to enjoy a good quality of life and retain your tooth. Sometimes, however, it may be more beneficial for you to remove the tooth and install a replacement.

If your dentist sends you to us for treatment, you may expect a nonsurgical endodontic treatment, such as a traditional root canal or re-treatment of a previous root canal. In other cases, an apical surgery – or apicoectomy – in which we come from outside the tooth, remove unhealthy tissue from the end of the root, and perform a reverse root canal might be needed. All of our procedures are performed microsurgically, using a microscope throughout the entire procedure.

Concerns about he procedure being painful are fallacious. The procedure in itself is guaranteed to be painless. Patients sometimes wonder about sedation, or whether the experience itself is something they don’t want to remember. To be honest, the procedure should be uneventful, even boring. I have never sedated a patient, and there are several reasons not to do so. In addition to the cost of sedation, you’ll have to have a driver. You’ll lose a whole day of work, and need someone to watch you until the sedation wears off. We make the experience both comfortable and pleasant for you so that, once the anesthesia wears off, you can go about your normal life.

If you need a root canal, there’s nothing to prepare and nothing special to do. Take a deep breath – and then come to our office and let us take care of you. We’ll keep you comfortable and take care of your issue.

Prior to your first visit, you don’t want to take any medications other than the normal daily medications prescribed by your primary care physician. Pain management medications could mask the discomfort we’re trying to alleviate and make the diagnosis more difficult.

After your root canal, you may wonder what to expect. When the anesthesia wears off, there is usually some soreness or a dull achiness. Ibuprofen (if you can take it) will usually manage any issues you might have. We recommend that you avoid chewing on the tooth until after you see your general dentist.

We expect you to have zero pain. Afterward, you’ll be numb for a few hours, but can go right back to work, play sports, or do whatever you normally would. Once the anesthesia wears off, expect a dull achiness or mild throbbing, but that’s the extent of your discomfort. Most teeth will be slightly tender for chewing, and that will continue briefly. We usually recommend over-the- counter pain medication if you’re medically able to take it.

The numbness that accompanies a root canal is no different from that you experience during a filling or having your teeth cleaned – if your dentist numbs you for a cleaning. When you leave our office, you can drive yourself and return to work or go about normal activities.

We recommend taking your usual medications and eating whatever you normally would prior to having a root canal. After the procedure, you will be numb, just as if you had a filling done, and won’t want to eat for a while. It’s best to wait for the numbness to go away before eating to avoid biting your tongue.

Many patients are referred to us by their dentists who will usually recommend some type of restorative treatment after we complete our root canal. If the tooth is a big molar with large fillings or significant decay, the most frequent recommendation is to cover the tooth with a crown or cap to protect it. For front teeth, we may be able to provide a treatment that eliminates the need for major restorative work.

Patients accustomed to visiting their dentist – and those who consult an endodontist for a root canal – should expect to make multiple visits. Statistically, no real benefit has been realized from a multi-visit approach and most of our procedures are completed in a single visit. If we feel you would benefit from another visit, we leave a medication inside the tooth and set a follow-up appointment. That appointment will last only 20 to 30 minutes, and you can expect to miss only half a day for your procedure.

Success rates for root canal treatments are very high. Root canal treatment on a live, non- infected tooth is almost always successful. When we complete your treatment, we fully expect that proper restorative treatment from your dentist will ensure that your tooth will be there for years. If you are worried about your root canal procedure length, do not hesitate to call our Elmira office.