Root Canal Treatment Process Guide: Symptoms That Call for It, Steps, Number of Visits and Duration, and Aftercare
Root canal treatment is the common name; the formal name is endodontic treatment. It is a treatment that saves the tooth by removing pulp infected through decay or cracking, shaping and disinfecting the canals inside the root, and filling them with a sealing material. The KDCA National Health Information Portal guides that it proceeds in 3 to 4 or more visits at intervals averaging 3 to 7 days, and a molar or a heavily ground tooth that has finished treatment is wrapped in a crown so that it does not break.
Key facts
| Definition of endodontic treatment | Removing infected pulp, cleaning the inside of the tooth, and sealing the empty space with disinfected material (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
|---|---|
| Number of visits | 3 to 4 or more visits at intervals averaging 3 to 7 days, ranging from finishing the same day to several months (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
| Success rate | Reported at 60 to 90%, with a 10-year success rate of about 70 to 80% (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
| Abnormal sensation after treatment | Usually disappears within several days to several weeks (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
| Regular checks | Regular checks including X-rays every year to confirm there is no reinfection (source: Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA, 질병관리청) National Health Information Portal) |
When is root canal treatment needed?
The pulp is the tissue in the middle of the tooth where the nerve and blood vessels gather. Root canal treatment is considered when inflammation or infection develops in the pulp from deep decay, a cracked tooth that exposes the pulp, gum disease, damage from accidents or habits, or tooth reduction for a prosthesis.
The National Health Information Portal lists pain when cold or hot things touch the tooth, severe pain even at rest, and frequently recurring pus in the gums as signs. If an infected pulp is left alone, inflammation passes through the root tip and spreads to the surrounding bone, and the tooth may have to be extracted.
What is the order of root canal treatment?
After local anesthesia, a hole is made in the top of the tooth to open the pulp space and find the entrances of the root canals. Infected tissue is scraped out with thin instruments and washed away with disinfectant, and the canals are shaped so they are easy to fill. Equipment such as rotary instruments, ultrasonic irrigators and a dental operating microscope is sometimes used.
When pain and inflammation have subsided, the root canals are filled without gaps with a sealer and a rubber-based filling material. After that, the opened top is filled, and a heavily weakened tooth proceeds to being wrapped in a crown.
- Open the pulp space after anesthesia
- Remove infected pulp and wash with disinfectant
- Shape the root canals
- Fill the root canals once inflammation subsides
- Fill the top and place a crown
Why are several visits needed?
Root canals are thin and curved, and one tooth often has several, so it is hard to clean them all at once. Because the process of leaving disinfectant in and checking after a few days whether inflammation has decreased is repeated, you make 3 to 4 or more visits at intervals averaging 3 to 7 days by the National Health Information Portal's standard.
If the inflammation is mild it may finish in a day, but if there is a lot of pus or the canals are blocked, it can take several months. Koreans' lower second molars are known to have many complex C-shaped canals, making treatment more demanding.
What should you be careful about during and after treatment?
During treatment, do not chew on that tooth or touch it with your tongue or hands. If the temporary material sealing the hole comes out, bacteria can enter again, so tell the dentist right away, and keeping every appointment on the set dates raises the success rate.
For a few days to a few weeks after treatment, you may have a dull feeling when chewing or abnormal sensation, but it usually disappears. A root-treated tooth breaks easily, so avoid hard food until the crown is placed, and it is good to have regular checks including X-rays every year to see whether reinfection has occurred.
When is the crown placed after root canal treatment?
Once root canal filling is finished and pain and swelling have subsided, the crown process begins. If little tooth remains, a core is built or a post is placed first, and the top is shaped, an impression taken and a temporary tooth fitted.
If a long gap is left between root canal treatment and the crown, bacteria can enter again through gaps in the temporary seal, or the weakened tooth can crack. The crown prosthesis period guided by the National Health Information Portal is about 1 to 3 weeks, so scheduling the prosthesis together as root canal treatment ends reduces the gap.
Common myths and facts
Myth: Root canal treatment kills the tooth and it soon falls out.
Even with the nerve removed, the tooth stays attached to the jawbone and ligament and keeps functioning. The 10-year success rate introduced by the National Health Information Portal is about 70 to 80%, and with protection by a crown and care it can last a long time.
Myth: The pain has gone, so the remaining root canal treatment is not needed.
Even if pain decreases after the first treatment, if disinfection and filling of the root canals are not finished, bacteria can grow again and the problem can recur. It is important to finish on the set schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Does root canal treatment hurt a lot?
Treatment is done under local anesthesia, so pain during treatment is mostly controlled. In a state of severe inflammation, anesthesia may not work well, so treatment is sometimes continued after the inflammation is first calmed.
Do I have to get a crown after root canal treatment?
The National Health Information Portal explains that a crown is placed to prevent fracture and is needed for molars or heavily ground teeth. For a front tooth with low chewing force and plenty of remaining tooth, it may be finished with a filling alone.
Do I have to take antibiotics during root canal treatment?
They are not needed in every case; the dentist prescribes antibiotics or painkillers depending on the degree of swelling and infection. Take prescribed medicine for the set period and dose.
What happens if a root-treated tooth hurts again?
Inflammation can recur because of bacteria remaining in the root canals or new bacteria that entered. In that case, retreatment, in which the existing filling is removed and the tooth treated again, or surgical treatment of the root tip is considered.
Are there restrictions on daily life during root canal treatment?
Most people can go about daily life right away. However, do not chew tough or hard food on the tooth being treated, and be careful with sticky food so the temporary material does not come out.
Related topics
- Cavities and Root Canal Treatment
- Cavities and Root Canal Treatment
- Root Canal Retreatment
- Apicoectomy
- Post and Core
- Pain After a Crown