Root canal procedures sound intimidating when you don’t know what to expect. Unfortunately, all of the online research might not explain the process enough to ease patients’ fears. Knowing what will happen at every step of treatment can eliminate the fears many people use to put off the procedure. Delaying a root canal, however, will only worsen symptoms and could lead to tooth extraction. Here’s a dentist's step-by-step guide of what to expect throughout the procedure.

What to Expect During Root Canal Treatment

1. Numbing the Tooth

Many patients wrongly believe root canal procedures are extremely painful. In reality, the dentist begins by using a local anesthetic to numb the tooth and the surrounding gum tissue. This ensures no pain is felt throughout treatment. A needle is used to administer the anesthetic; if you have a fear of needles, you may want to talk with your dentist about sedation and other options that can help you relax.

2. Removing the Infected Pulp

The pulp chamber is at the center of the tooth and houses all the soft tissue, including nerves and blood vessels, which travel through the root canals and connect to the rest of the teeth and mouth. When this pulp becomes infected, the dentist must remove it by drilling a small hole in the tooth. The pulp chamber and root canals are then filed and smoothed, and the tooth is disinfected.

3. Filling the Tooth

Once the infection has been eradicated, the dentist must fill the root canals and pulp chamber. Typically, a material called gutta percha is used to fill these spaces, which restores some strength to the tooth and helps protect it from damage. Then, the opening the dentist created is closed with a temporary filling.

4. Adding Long-Term Protection

In a few weeks, after your dentist has verified that the infection is no longer present, they will create a custom crown to place over your tooth. The crown completely seals the tooth off, protecting it from bacteria and potential damage. Because they are custom-made, this process can take a couple weeks to complete. You may experience some sensitivity until the permanent crown is in place, but following your dentist’s recovery tips can help. 

If you have a toothache that has lasted more than a couple days and are experiencing pain when biting down and chewing, you may have a deep cavity or tooth infection that could require root canal treatment. The dentist at Arrow Dental Care in St. Peters and Ellisville, MO, can examine your tooth to uncover the cause of your painful symptoms and determine if a root canal procedure is an appropriate treatment. Learn more on their website or call (636) 441-6999 for an appointment at their St. Peters location or (636) 220-7770 for an appointment in Ellisville.