A root canal usually takes one or two appointments of roughly 90 minutes each, according to the American Association of Endodontists. Most people go back to their usual day afterward and feel tender for a few days. In general, molars and infected teeth tend to take longer than front teeth.
Your own timeline depends on which tooth is being treated and what your dentist finds, so ask at your exam how long your visit is likely to take.
What Decides How Long the Appointment Takes
The number of canals matters most. A front tooth usually has a single canal, premolars often have one or two, and molars commonly have three or four. Each canal has to be cleaned, shaped and sealed along its full length, so a molar simply involves more of the same work.
Several other things can lengthen treatment or spread it over a second visit:
- An active infection. The dentist may clean the canals, place a dressing inside the tooth and seal it temporarily, then finish once the infection has settled.
- Narrow, curved or partly blocked canals, which take longer to find and work through.
- A tooth that has had a root canal before. Retreatment means removing the old filling material from the canals before they can be cleaned again.
- A tooth that is hard to numb. A badly inflamed tooth can need more anesthetic and more time before treatment starts.
Treatment itself starts with numbing the tooth, then a thin sheet called a dental dam goes around it to keep it clean and dry. After that, the dentist opens the top of the tooth, removes the pulp, cleans and shapes each canal, and fills it with a rubber-like material called gutta-percha.
From First Exam to a Finished Tooth
The root canal is usually not the last appointment. Back teeth take heavy chewing force, so molars and premolars generally need a crown afterward, while front teeth do not always need one. Counting the crown, a tooth can take two to three visits from treatment to finished restoration.
Until the tooth is fully restored, the American Association of Endodontists advises against chewing or biting on it, because an unrestored tooth can fracture. That makes the gap between the root canal and the crown worth keeping short. Redondo Beach Dental Group makes crowns in the office with CEREC, so ask whether your tooth can have a same-day crown instead of waiting on a lab.
If you are still comparing options for root canal therapy in Redondo Beach, the number of visits and who places the crown are fair questions to ask before you book.
What Recovery Is Like
A treated tooth often feels sore or sensitive for a few days, especially if it was painful or infected beforehand, and it is common for it to feel tender when you bite. The American Association of Endodontists says symptoms improve within three to five days in most cases.
- Wait until the numbness wears off before you eat, so you do not bite your cheek, lip or tongue.
- Choose soft foods and chew on the other side until the permanent filling or crown is in place.
- Brush and floss as usual unless your dentist tells you otherwise, taking care around a temporary filling.
- A cold compress held on the cheek for short periods can ease swelling.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers are often enough. Follow your dentist’s advice on which one to take and how much.
Going back to work and driving
Most root canals are done with local anesthetic only, which numbs the tooth and leaves you fully awake. The American Association of Endodontists says you can drive normally right after a root canal done this way. Most people find they can return to work the same day, although a numb lip may make talking feel odd for a few hours.
Choosing sedation dentistry for the visit changes the plan. With oral or IV sedation you need an adult to drive you home and should rest for the remainder of the day. Most people who have laughing gas can drive themselves home.
When Recovery Is Not Going to Plan
Pain that lasts longer than expected or keeps building is uncommon, and it should be checked. Call your dentist if:
- The pain is severe, or getting worse rather than better after a few days
- Swelling appears inside your mouth or on your face
- The temporary filling comes out
- Your bite feels high or uneven when you close your teeth
- Symptoms come back after they had settled
Frequently Asked Questions
How painful is a root canal?
A root canal is done with the tooth numbed by local anesthetic, so most people feel pressure and vibration rather than sharp pain, much like a long filling. Tell the dentist if you feel anything sharp, because more anesthetic can be given. Soreness for a few days afterward is common.
Can I go to work after a root canal?
Most people can go back to work after a root canal done with local anesthetic, because it does not affect alertness. Oral or IV sedation is different: plan to take the rest of the day off and have someone drive you home.
Is a root canal a big surgery?
A root canal is not surgery in the usual sense. The dentist works through a small opening in the top of the tooth with the area numbed, and there is no cut in the gum. A separate procedure called endodontic surgery exists for some teeth that do not heal after a root canal.
How many days rest is needed after a root canal?
Most people do not need days of rest after a root canal. The tooth may be tender to bite on for a few days, and symptoms usually improve within three to five days. Resting for the remainder of the day applies when oral or IV sedation was used.
Can I drive after a root canal?
You can usually drive after a root canal done with local anesthetic only, since it numbs the tooth without making you drowsy. After oral or IV sedation you should not drive for the rest of the day.
How long does pain last after a root canal?
Pain after a root canal usually lasts a few days, and in most cases symptoms improve within three to five days. Pain that is severe, getting worse or lasting longer than that should be checked by your dentist.
Questions About Your Root Canal Visit?
Ask us how long your treatment is likely to take and whether a same-day crown fits your tooth. Call Redondo Beach Dental Group at (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online.