A root canal may need one, two or three sittings. The exact number depends on the tooth, the infection and how well the tooth settles after cleaning.
When one sitting may be enough
A single visit may be possible when the canals are straightforward, there is little infection and the tooth can be cleaned and sealed safely on the same day.
Why two or three sittings may be needed
- There is a large infection or swelling.
- The tooth has narrow, curved or extra canals.
- Medicine needs to stay inside the tooth between visits.
- The tooth is painful and needs time to settle.
- An old root canal needs to be treated again.
What happens between sittings?
The dentist places a temporary filling to protect the tooth. Avoid chewing hard food on that side and return on the planned date. A delayed visit can allow the temporary filling to break or leak.
Does more visits mean the treatment failed?
No. Extra visits are often used to clean infection carefully and improve the chance of keeping the tooth.
Read about root canal treatment in Bibwewadi or book an examination.
Your dentist can estimate the number of visits only after examining the tooth and X-ray.