A root canal involves disinfection of the tooth, shaping and cleaning of the space (or ‘canal’) where the nerve lies and filling the space with a special rubber like material which hardens when cooled. This highly skilled procedure can be done usually over the course of 2-3 visits under local anesthetic. Although this may seem long, the procedure itself is not painful. A temporary filling is placed in the tooth in between appointments for your comfort. A rubber sheet will also be used to cover your mouth to prevent contamination of the tooth when undergoing treatment.
Due to the nature of root canal treatment, teeth can become weaker or more prone to cracking afterwards and so the tooth usually would warrant a crown after this procedure to protect it and prevent it from fracturing later.
Your dentist will discuss all of this with you at your consultation appointment if you have any questions.
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