“How long does a root canal procedure take on a molar tooth?”
I will have a root canal procedure on my molar tooth. How long does it take?
5 Answers
The length of time a root canal procedure takes depends on the individual case. Generally, a single-visit root canal procedure can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. During this time, the dentist will use specialized tools to access the inner chamber of the tooth and remove any infected or damaged tissue. The dentist will then shape and clean the area before filling it with a rubber-like material called gutta percha.
If there is an infection present in the root canal, the dentist may need to perform multiple visits in order to fully treat it. In these cases, each visit can last up to one hour and may require antibiotics in between visits. Once all of the treatment is complete, a crown or other restoration may be needed to protect the tooth from further damage.
Overall, root canal procedures on molar teeth can take anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple hours depending on the individual case.
If there is an infection present in the root canal, the dentist may need to perform multiple visits in order to fully treat it. In these cases, each visit can last up to one hour and may require antibiotics in between visits. Once all of the treatment is complete, a crown or other restoration may be needed to protect the tooth from further damage.
Overall, root canal procedures on molar teeth can take anywhere from 30 minutes to multiple hours depending on the individual case.
As most of my answers start out- it depends.
It depends on the location in the mouth. Is it an upper or lower tooth? Lower molars generally have 3-4 canals and upper molars can have 4-5 canals. But every tooth is different, and not all fall into the category of usual and "normal". Some have more canals and some have fewer.
If it is a second molar and farther back, it is more difficult and time-consuming because of the limited access.
If it's a tooth that has had a lot of work done to it over many years, there may be calcification in the canals that takes longer to get past to complete the care.
Think of root canal treatment as a very long filling appointment. Finding the openings to the canals can be like trying to thread a very tiny needle upside down in a mirror. It is very delicate and precise work- and can't be rushed.
If it's a badly infected tooth, it may need more than one visit because the infection must be controlled before we can complete the root canal. Sometimes that even makes it difficult to numb the tooth, requiring multiple visits.
Generally, molar root canal treatment, if "normal", takes about 90 minutes.
Good luck!
Dr. Conrad
It depends on the location in the mouth. Is it an upper or lower tooth? Lower molars generally have 3-4 canals and upper molars can have 4-5 canals. But every tooth is different, and not all fall into the category of usual and "normal". Some have more canals and some have fewer.
If it is a second molar and farther back, it is more difficult and time-consuming because of the limited access.
If it's a tooth that has had a lot of work done to it over many years, there may be calcification in the canals that takes longer to get past to complete the care.
Think of root canal treatment as a very long filling appointment. Finding the openings to the canals can be like trying to thread a very tiny needle upside down in a mirror. It is very delicate and precise work- and can't be rushed.
If it's a badly infected tooth, it may need more than one visit because the infection must be controlled before we can complete the root canal. Sometimes that even makes it difficult to numb the tooth, requiring multiple visits.
Generally, molar root canal treatment, if "normal", takes about 90 minutes.
Good luck!
Dr. Conrad
Just the mechanical part of treating a molar is in the 1 1/2 hour range. Consider though that one molar does not equal another. A host of factors that can complicate the task can be looming around the corner and extend that time. Sometimes even a second visit is rightfully indicated.
It depends on the dentist, the equipment and technology they have, and the difficulty of the root canal. Some may take 30 minutes, some can take three hours, some may even take multiple visits. In our office, Peakview Dentistry in Boulder CO, we aim to do a root canal and crown in one visit which we schedule from one hour to two depending on the difficulty. Good question though!
If you have the root canal done by an endodontist (root canal specialist), it should take between 60 and 90 minutes.
