Duration of a root canal treatment

definition

Root canal treatment primarily serves to preserve a tooth whose pulp (pulp) was damaged by inflammatory processes. This condition is called pulpitis or tooth pulp inflammation.

As a patient, one often fears having to sit in the treatment chair for too long and suffer pain.

To alleviate these concerns, the rest of the article provides information on the length of the session itself, the healing and pain associated with a (necessary) root canal treatment.

Duration of a root canal treatment

In most cases, arrange for it strong pain, that of one Inflammation of the roots affected patients to see a dentist. The pain typical for these diseases can be both stabbing, as well as dull be and be in regions around the Temporomandibular joint and the Ears forward. Depending on the extent of the inflammatory processes, the patient feels pain of varying intensity.
In general one can assume that strong Pain to a particularly pronounced inflammation of the Dental pulp Clues.
However, the decrease in pain after a while should by no means be misinterpreted as a good sign. The decrease in the response of the Tooth is in most cases not a sign of healing.
Since in the course of the inflammatory processes in the dental pulp there is a progressive damage of the nerve fibers embedded in it, indicates an abrupt cessation of pain without a Root canal treatment was initiated on the Death of the tooth down.
Visiting the dentist and initiating a root canal treatment are therefore often unavoidable even when the pain subsides.

Since the root canal treatment is a laborious process acts who often several individual sessions in the dental office, the duration is one Root canal treatment accordingly Long.
In addition, it is not possible to predict in advance how much time the root canal treatment will take. Namely, this depends on both of the kind, as well as from the heaviness the inflammation of the dental pulp.
The question of the total duration of treatment cannot therefore be answered in general, it differs from person to person and even from tooth to tooth.

As a rule of thumb for the duration of a root canal treatment: The stronger the inflammation and the more roots the tooth has, the longer the duration of the treatment.

in the Ideal case, that means with a low severity of the inflammation, the entire root canal treatment in a single session be completed. The removal of the damaged nerve fibers and the filling in of the hollowed out ones Tooth roots can be carried out quickly in these cases without getting in the way of healing. However, here we are talking about the exception.
in the As a rule so in the case of serious problems The treatment can be many individual sessions require and therefore over Weeks to months last for.

In patients with severe inflammation of the dental pulp, it is impossible to fill the root canals immediately after the nerve fibers have been removed. In order to ensure the success of the treatment, to guarantee healing and to minimize the risk of secondary diseases, the Root canal treatment be done in several sections.
Per session can have a duration of approximately 30-60 minutes be expected. This is particularly common when the Inflammatory processes inside the tooth pulp are so strong that to calm a anti-inflammatory, antibacterial drug must be introduced. In these patients, performing a root canal treatment of too short a duration (in one session) may be too severe pain during and after therapy. In addition, the immediate closure of the root canals in such cases can stand in the way of healing.
But a root canal treatment doesn't just have to be Dental nervesthat have died from the inflammation. Often a nerve is still "alive" (vital) in the course of an inflammation, but so badly damaged that its recovery can be ruled out. Here, too, root canal treatment can usually not be avoided.
However, since this treatment would be extremely painful for the patient, the attending dentist first gives a medication that "kills" the nerve in the vicinity of the tooth pulp. Opening the affected tooth, removing the inflamed nerve fibers, and applying the drug usually involve one Duration of only 15-30 minutes. The medication has to act for several days and the duration of the root canal treatment is extended accordingly.

Usually takes a root canal treatment about an hour per session , but this time can also vary widely. For the patient, however, it is it is important to conscientiously attend every appointment within the root canal treatment.
Because already after the first appointment, i.e. the Removal of the dental pulp and the nerve fibers, there is already a clear improvement in the symptoms, not a few patients tend to do so; not to attend the following appointments. This inevitably leads to after some time Spread of inflammation. The inflammation can be due to the Jawbone overlap, it can spread Abscesses and in the worst case the tooth has to be "pulled".

Duration of the session

Must be a tooth root canal treated be, can several sessions be necessary at the dentist.Removal of the pulp, disinfection of the canal and subsequent filling can be carried out in one treatment step, or they can be spread over two or more sessions. This depends on the individual situation of the patient and no precise information is possible. The entire treatment can Take weeks or even months. Furthermore, it is therefore not possible to estimate how long a session will last. This depends on the skill of the practitioner who Cooperation of the patient, of the initial situation and possible complications.
These aspects are variable from person to person, so that no exact time can be given. Estimates have shown that you can get around with one hour treatment per session should expect. Overall, however, it is a very complex process that should be carried out carefully. One can roughly say that the greater the inflammation and the more roots the tooth the longer the treatment lasts. However, no matter how long the treatment takes, it is important to keep every treatment appointment carefullyto ensure successful completion of the root canal treatment.

Duration of healing

When you have survived the root canal treatment at the dentist and the tooth has been treated, it begins Healing process. A precise time frame for this cannot be given, as every body reacts differently to an intervention and different time to healing takes. Furthermore, the The initial situation is crucial. The greater the inflammation and the more complex the procedure, the longer the healing phase. It is also typical of healing that pain may still occur after the procedure, but what Part of the recovery process is and should not be unsettling.
Only when the Pain does not diminish and persists over a long period of time, a renewed check at the dentist is necessary. In order to speed up the healing process, it is primarily important to the body Quiet to grant him strength regeneration to give. This includes that Avoiding Stress and for enough sleep to care. Alcohol, coffee, or nicotine are to be avoided during this time, as it irritates the existing wound and the Delayed healing. It is also important that the Healing process checked again by the dentist to assess the progress and to be able to clarify any uncertainties or problems with the healing early.

Duration of pain

Usually a root canal treatment will do strong pain because bacteria have penetrated the inside of the tooth. A root canal treatment eliminates the cause of the pain, however, pain may still occur after the procedure. However, since these pains are part of the healing phase, they are no longer critical and a sign that the body is regenerated. The Duration this pain cannot be accurately estimatedsince the duration of the Healing is very individual is.
Usually the pain sounds within less days but may, in rare cases, last longer depending on the treatment. The pain during healing can be common with Painkillers be alleviated. This must be discussed with the attending physician. However, if the pain persists, a dentist should be consulted. He can assess the situation and assess whether the healing is going normally, or whether perhaps Pathogen in the root canal that are causing the pain. In this case a Revision of the root filling be performed.

Root canal treatment costs

Whether the costs for a root canal treatment are covered by the health insurance must be discussed individually with the patient and the respective situation. In general, the health insurance company will only cover the costs if the treatment ensures that the tooth will be saved. The condition is that the dentist can treat the tooth to the tip and also fill it. However, especially in the molars, the root canals are often strongly curved at the end, which does not always make a filling to the tip possible.

There are other restrictions on molars, at least one of which must be met.
The first limitation is that the affected tooth is in a row of teeth that is healthy. The second limitation is that if the affected tooth already has a denture, it can be preserved through the treatment.
The third and final exception is that the treatment of the affected tooth can avoid a free-end situation, so that this tooth represents the last tooth in the row of teeth.

If a molar does not meet the requirements, the health insurance company will only cover the extraction of the tooth. If you decide to have a root canal treatment anyway, you have to pay for it privately. An average of 1000 euros is then due for one treatment per tooth.
If the costs are covered by the health insurance, it covers the following treatment steps: drilling, disinfecting and filling the root canals. The chance of success is around 60% - 70%.
If you want to increase the chances of success, further, more specialized methods are necessary that enable even more precise analysis and processing of the root canals. However, these must be borne by the patient himself. This would include microscopic root canal treatment, for example. If you are privately insured, the situation changes, as private health insurances are usually more accommodating and take on further treatments.

You can find more on this topic under: Costs of a root canal treatment