Root canal treatment · what to expect
What happens during root canal treatment?
Root canal treatment at Y3 Smiles Dental in Broadmeadows is done under local anaesthetic, with a thin rubber sheet keeping the tooth dry. You feel pressure and vibration rather than sharp pain. It usually takes more than one appointment, and you can stop us at any point by raising your hand.
Before the appointment
Eat something beforehand, because your mouth will be numb afterwards and you will be lying still for a while. Take your usual medicines as normal, and tell us about any of them when you arrive, particularly blood thinners. If you have been prescribed antibiotics for the tooth, keep taking them as directed unless we have told you otherwise.
Bring:
- Your health fund card, so we can claim on the spot
- A list of your medicines and any allergies
- Headphones, if music helps you relax
- Your quote, if you want to go through it again before we start
Step by step: the first appointment
Checking the tooth
The dentist confirms which tooth is causing the trouble, checks the x-ray with you on the screen, and talks through what is about to happen.
Numbing
A numbing gel goes on the gum first, then the anaesthetic. You feel a pinch and then pressure. We wait until the tooth is properly numb and test it before starting. If the tooth is badly inflamed, numbing can take longer, and the dentist will take that time rather than rush it.
The rubber sheet
A thin sheet of rubber is clipped around the tooth. It keeps the tooth clean and dry, stops anything reaching the back of your throat, and means you can relax your mouth instead of holding it open around instruments. You breathe normally through your nose and mouth. Most people find it the least troubling part once it is on.
Opening the tooth
A small opening is made through the top of the tooth. This is the drilling part, and it sounds like having a filling. You feel vibration, not pain.
Cleaning the canals
The dentist works down each canal with fine instruments, rinsing as they go. It is quiet, fiddly work and it is the part that takes the time. You may feel a slight pushing sensation. Sometimes a further x-ray is taken partway through to check the length of the canal.
Closing up for now
Medicine is often placed inside the tooth to settle the infection, and a temporary filling seals it until the next visit. The dentist checks your bite so the tooth is not standing high.
What happens at the next appointment?
The tooth is numbed and isolated again, the temporary filling comes out, and the canals are checked and cleaned again if needed. When the dentist is satisfied the tooth has settled, the canals are filled and sealed and an x-ray confirms the seal. The last step is rebuilding the tooth so you can chew on it. Some teeth are restored the same day, and others are booked for a crown once the tooth has settled. How many appointments your tooth needs depends on the tooth, and your dentist will tell you at the first visit.
What does it feel like?
The honest answer is that it feels much like having a large filling done. Pressure, vibration, the taste of the rinse, water and suction in your mouth, and your jaw feeling tired towards the end. The pain people dread is almost always the infection that brought them in, and that starts to settle once the nerve is removed.
If you feel anything sharp, raise your hand. We stop and top up the anaesthetic. You are not being brave by pushing through it, and telling us makes the appointment go better.
How long does it take?
Longer than a filling, and we book it that way, with the longest part being the cleaning of the canals. A front tooth with one canal is quicker than a back tooth with several. We will tell you how long to allow when we book the appointment, once the x-ray has shown us what we are dealing with.
What if you are very anxious about it?
Root canal treatment carries a reputation that the treatment itself does not deserve, and a lot of people arrive expecting the worst. Tell us when you book. We can agree a stop signal, talk you through each step before it happens, break the work across more visits, and book you at a quieter time of day. You are welcome to bring someone with you. Our nervous patients page explains more about how we work with people who find the dentist hard.
What happens when you leave?
You will be numb for a few hours and the tooth may be tender for a few days as things settle. Our aftercare page covers eating, pain relief and the warning signs worth calling about. For what the treatment does and who needs it, see root canal treatment, and our cost page explains the fees.
Other questions people ask
Will I be awake?
Yes. Root canal treatment is done under local anaesthetic, so you are awake and comfortable. Sedation can be arranged: a visiting registered specialist anaesthetist attends the clinic on days set aside for it, provides IV sedation or a general anaesthetic, and charges their own fee. It is booked in advance and we ask you to commit first.
Can I listen to music during treatment?
Yes, bring headphones if it helps. Plenty of people find it easier with something to listen to, and we can still get your attention.
What if I need to swallow or take a break?
Raise your hand. We stop, clear your mouth and let you sit up. There is no part of the treatment that cannot be paused.
Will I be able to go back to work afterwards?
Most people do. Your lip and tongue will be numb for a few hours and the tooth may feel tender, so a quiet afternoon is kinder if you can manage it.
Is the temporary filling safe to chew on?
It is made to seal the tooth, not to take chewing force. Use the other side until the permanent restoration is done.
What if the tooth is still sore at the next visit?
Tell us at the start of the appointment. Some tenderness between visits is common, and it changes nothing about how the treatment goes ahead unless the dentist finds a reason.