Root canal treatment takes one visit for some teeth and two or more for others. It depends on the tooth, the number of canals and how much infection is present. Your dentist tells you the plan at the first visit.
What root canal treatment does
Inside every tooth is the pulp, soft tissue with nerves and blood vessels. Deep decay, a crack or an injury can let bacteria reach it. Root canal treatment removes this tissue, cleans and shapes the canals inside the roots, then fills and seals them so the tooth can stay in your mouth.
Root canal treatment in Chiang Mai
How many visits?
- First visit: examination and X-rays, then numbing, a rubber dam around the tooth, and cleaning and shaping of the canals.
- If the canals need more time, medication is placed inside the tooth and closed with a temporary filling until the next visit.
- Final visit: the canals are filled and sealed, and your dentist plans the final restoration, usually a crown or onlay.
If radiation worries you: at our clinic, X-rays inside the mouth are digital, taken with phosphor plates and sensors that help lower the dose compared with film. Our Planmeca ProMax CBCT has an Ultra Low Dose mode, your dentist chooses the mode that suits each case, and X-rays are taken only when they are needed.
Dental X-ray radiation: how much is it, and how we keep it low
The root canal fee covers the first two cleaning visits. If your tooth needs more cleaning and medication visits after that, each additional visit has its own fee, which your dentist explains in advance.
What you feel during and after treatment
The tooth is numbed with local anesthesia before treatment, so most people feel only pressure. Tell your dentist if you feel anything sharp. Afterwards the tooth may feel tender when you chew, and your jaw may feel tired, usually for two to three days.
Contact the clinic if the pain gets worse after that, or if you notice swelling. Until the permanent restoration is in place, chew mainly on the other side.
Why a crown after root canal treatment?
After treatment the tooth works without its pulp. It stays firmly in the jaw, but it can become more brittle and may darken over time. This is why most treated molars should have a crown or onlay to protect them from breaking, and some teeth also need a post for extra support.
Whether your tooth needs a crown, an onlay or a filling depends on how much tooth is left and where it is in your mouth. Your dentist assesses each tooth and explains the choice. A temporary filling is only a short-term seal.
When a case needs more
Curved or narrow canals, extra canals, or a tooth that was treated before can take longer. Your dentist may use a dental operating microscope, a CBCT 3D scan or bioceramic materials when the tooth needs them, and these are explained with a written estimate after the examination.