How long does a root canal take?
The length of time needed to perform a root canal Edinburgh is a tricky question to answer. As orthodontic specialists, we are well equipped with our years of experience in quickly and effectively completing any ‘under tooth’ treatments. However, most of our patients are referred from local dental surgeries, which are usually more than capable of performing simple procedures. We only see the complex cases which almost by definition will take longer.
A conservative estimate is two hours per root, but that only begs the question of how many roots are there? A general rule of thumb is one for the incisors, one or more for premolars and two to three for molars. Wisdom teeth can have up to five and due to their location, they are the most challenging teeth we would perform a root canal Edinburgh on.
The number of roots you have is not really something you would normally consider, but varies with strong family traits. There is also an ethnic variation, with native Australians having the most tooth roots per tooth. You could say your tooth roots show you your roots!
The question of how long it may take can only be estimated after a dental X-ray, which will show the extent of the infection and the number of roots that need to be worked on. Even with a relatively simple one rooted incisor, it is normal to break up the process over two appointments. The treatment is painless with many of our patients falling asleep in the chair, but it is painstaking work that requires lots of concentration and a two-hour session would be very taxing on our endodontist.
To safely suspend treatment, an anti-bacterial solution is placed into the partially cleaned tooth. This slowing permeates into the dentine and down to the very tip of the tooth. The opening at the top of the tooth is then given a temporary filling which can be quickly removed at the start of the next appointment.
There is some evidence from clinical records that such pauses in treatment increase the overall success rate but the reasons why are not clear. It may be due to the application of the anti-bacterial solution or that the work is performed to a high standard if the operator is not overstretched during the last stages.
Many patients of a nervous disposition may be tempted to ask for tooth extraction over undergoing a lengthy treatment. Fundamentally, this is the patient’s choice, but we strongly urge a root canal Edinburgh over-extraction. Not only are there aesthetic reasons if a front tooth is affected, but there are functional implications of losing a tooth on how you eat and the added stress to the surrounding teeth.
If you have further queries feel free to contact us or email us, our full details are available on our website.
During this time of uncertainty, we are offering online consultations with our endodontist Dr Navid Saberi. This is also a first assessment and a discussion of any treatment option without the need to travel.