Root Canal?

[Pugdog007]

Is this a 2-step process? How much time is required between visits? And does it hurt?

 

[tiggersmom2]

Is this a 2-step process? How much time is required between visits? And does it hurt?

It usually is a 2 step process. Sometimes it can be a 1 step process but those are few and far between. I can promise you a root canal does not hurt. You get a shot just like you would a restoration (filling) and you are numb! It will usually be 2, 1 hour visits placed 1 - 2 weeks apart.

Remember...after the tooth has a root canal...it also needs a crown.

 

[Briarmom]

I've had two root canals and they were both 1 visit, about 1 hour. It wasn't as bad as I thought.

 

[aprilgail2]

I've had about 7 of them...usually its a 2 visit process but for the very back teeth it was a 3 visit process. I have never had one done in one visit. They work on it, then they need to wait for the swelling to go down, then they double check it the next visit and fill it in. The visits were between 45-60 minutes each. They did not hurt at all...I've had more pain when they drilled a caviety than during a root canal!

 

[Friendly Frog]

I agree, mine hurt less than a filling.

 

[j's m]

I've had too many, maybe 8 or so, plus 2 re-done. It used to be 3 visits, then 2, and the last one I had done 2 months ago was only one visit, about an hour or so long. He gave me so much novacaine, I was numb for 4 hours, no pain at all. Usually all the pain is before, when the nerve is dying. Good luck.

 

[N.Bailey]

My dentist likes to wait 6 weeks to put the permanent filling in. He says he's sure it's safe by that point.

I've had it hurt too. They do give you a shot, but sometimes, that shots not enough and once they get the tooth opened, they'll (at least my dentist always does) give you a shot directly down into that tooth. After that, you won't feel a thing.

It takes longer for the 1st visit because they keep pushing those pins down in there to kill the nerve. My dentist usually X-rays 2 or 3 times to make sure he's got it all. It's a SLOW tedious visit, IMO. I think I got scheduled for 1 hour, but I went WAY beyond that hour.

On the 2nd trip, you won't need anything for pain.

 

[Sparx]

Mine was a three step. Mine hurt so bad afterwards that I couldn't eat solid food for like a week after each visit.
Normally dental work doesn't bother me, fillings aren't a big deal, but the root canal threw me for a loop.

 

[luvmydogs]

My dh (who is the world's biggest baby) had a root canal in a one-step process. After he came home, he went right out and mowed the lawn--this from a man who when he was sick one time set up ds's old baby monitor so he could stay in bed and not have to yell down to me if he needed something (this lasted about 10 minutes before I pulled the plug). For him to not complain of any pain is really saying something.

 

[N.Bailey]

Mine was a three step. Mine hurt so bad afterwards that I couldn't eat solid food for like a week after each visit.
Normally dental work doesn't bother me, fillings aren't a big deal, but the root canal threw me for a loop.

If it hurt afterward (not only where you got the shot now) then your dentist didn't go deep enough to totally kill the nerve.

BTW to the OP. A crown would be a 3rd visit.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Ideally, the tooth should NOT hurt after a root canal because the nerve is dead. If it does hurt....well....something went wrong!

 

[Sparx]

If it hurt afterward (not only where you got the shot now) then your dentist didn't go deep enough to totally kill the nerve.

BTW to the OP. A crown would be a 3rd visit.

the nerve was twisted or something, he said that something was weird about it, but I was still under alot of medication. I just know that I couldn't chew for a week.

 

[luvtoall]

I just had my first one done a few hours ago...... Really no pain at all during or after.
It hurt so bad when I walked in the clinic, that when it was "deadened" (....is that a word???) It was a huge relief!! Easy as a filling....

 

[kirbsam]

msot root canals can be done in one visit. then it is one more visit for the permanent filling or two more visits for a crown. most root canals do not hurt postop, but inflammation in the ligament of the tooth can cause post op pain, mostly has nothing to do with not going deep enough. teeth with no nerves can hurt. hair has no nerves, hence you can cut it, but it hurts to pull it. this is like a tooth with a root canal. what is holding the tooth in, can still hurt.

 

[tiggersmom2]

most root canals do not hurt postop, but inflammation in the ligament of the tooth can cause post op pain, mostly has nothing to do with not going deep enough. teeth with no nerves can hurt. hair has no nerves, hence you can cut it, but it hurts to pull it. this is like a tooth with a root canal. what is holding the tooth in, can still hurt.

I agree that pain can occur due to the ligament but this would be more of a "soreness" not really an aching tooth pain. Also, in rare cases... canals can become infected after treatment or tissue is pushed through the ends of the roots....but this is easily treated.

 

[grlpwrd]

I've had two root canals a few years ago and they were done in two steps. I had a first appointment and then I returned to the dentist to have the second part done in a separate appointment.

With the anesthesia it didn't hurt, but I was aware that there was some serious action in my mouth. lol

Looking back I would be more concerned with the healing and recovery than the actual process as I worried myself to death for nothing.

GL!

 

[Muffy]

I've had one and it was big deal. Please don't worry...