Face 
Dentistry If you’re trying to fit treatment around work, family or other commitments, one of your first questions may be:
How long am I actually going to be at the dentist?
There isn’t one appointment length that applies to every root canal.
The NHS advises that root canal treatment usually involves two or more appointments, with appointments often lasting around one to two hours and sometimes longer.
But this is a general guide rather than a timetable for your treatment.
Some cases may be completed differently.
The time required depends on the tooth, its anatomy and the treatment needed.
Look at your front teeth and your back teeth.
They clearly aren’t the same shape on the outside – and they aren’t the same on the inside either.
Different teeth can have different numbers of roots and root canals.
The anatomy can also vary between individuals.
Some root canal systems are relatively straightforward.
Others may be narrow, curved or complex.
That affects the time required to assess, clean, shape and fill them.
Yes.
A front tooth will generally have a different root canal anatomy from a molar at the back of your mouth.
But tooth type alone doesn’t tell us exactly how long treatment will take.
Two apparently similar teeth can have different anatomy and different clinical problems.
There are several possible reasons.
Treatment may need to be carried out in stages.
Your clinician may need additional time to:
A temporary restoration may be placed between appointments where appropriate.
Your clinician will explain the anticipated sequence for your tooth.
Not necessarily.
“Specialist” doesn’t translate into a standard longer or shorter appointment.
Specialist cases may themselves be more complex, which can affect treatment time.
At Evolve, Dr Alex Brett, Specialist Endodontist, will explain the anticipated appointment requirements after assessing the tooth.
Retreatment can involve additional stages because the tooth has already undergone root canal treatment.
Alex may need to manage:
This is why it isn’t sensible to assume that an initial root canal and a retreatment will take the same amount of time.
Read: What is root canal retreatment?
If existing material or a post needs to be removed to gain access to the root canal system, this may add complexity and treatment time.
Whether removal is appropriate can only be established after assessment.
Many people return to normal daily activities after dental treatment, but individual circumstances vary.
Your mouth may remain numb after your appointment and the tooth or surrounding tissues can feel tender.
If you have a particularly long or complex appointment – or your work has particular physical demands – you may prefer to plan some flexibility afterwards.
Ask Alex what he would recommend for your particular treatment.
If you’ve only had local anaesthetic, this does not normally prevent you from driving.
However, follow the specific advice you’re given, particularly if any medication or sedation has been used or if there is another reason driving would not be appropriate.
Follow the instructions your clinician gives you.
If a temporary restoration is being used, Alex will explain how to look after the tooth and what to do if you experience a problem before your next appointment.
Keep your next appointment as planned unless the practice advises otherwise.
Not necessarily.
Root canal treatment deals with the root canal system.
The tooth also needs to be appropriately restored.
Depending on your circumstances, this may be completed at Evolve or by your usual dentist.
If you’ve been referred to Alex by another dentist, we’ll make sure the next stage of care is clear.
Some treatment may be completed in one visit, while other cases require more than one appointment. It depends on the tooth and clinical circumstances.
Because the complexity of the tooth and treatment required first needs to be understood.
Molar teeth often have more complex root canal systems than some other teeth, but appointment requirements depend on the individual case.
There is no standard duration. Previous treatment and existing restorations can add complexity, so Alex will advise you after assessment.
Local anaesthetic can continue to affect the area for some time after treatment. Your clinician will advise you about looking after your mouth while sensation returns.
Read: What happens during root canal treatment?
Or download:
Your guide to root canal treatment
If you’ve been referred for specialist treatment – or would like to self-refer – speak to our team about an assessment with Dr Alex Brett, Specialist Endodontist.
Contact Evolve
For independent information, read the NHS guide to root canal treatment.
Electric or manual toothbrush - which is better?
It`s one of those dental questions where almost everyone has an opinion.
But does buying an electric toothbrush automatically mean you`re doing a better job?
Richard tackles the question.
Whichever toothbrush you use, how you brush matters enormously - so don`t panic if there`s nothing rechargeable sitting beside your bathroom sink.
Now we`re curious...
Clear aligners or fixed braces - which is better?
Which is better - clear aligners or fixed braces?
Neither.
At least, not until we know more about you.
The right orthodontic treatment depends on your teeth, what you`d like to change, your lifestyle and a number of clinical considerations.
For some people, clear aligners can be a great option. For others, fixed braces may be more appropriate.
So rather than starting with:
“Which braces do you want?”
We`d much rather start with:
“What would you like to change about your smile?”
Swipe through to understand some of the differences.
💚 £338 raised for Macmillan Cancer Support! 💚
We had such a lovely time at our Macmillan Coffee Morning last week. ☕🍰
A huge thank you to everyone who popped into the practice, enjoyed a slice of cake, had a chat and made a donation. It was wonderful to see so many of our patients, friends and members of the local community getting involved, and we were genuinely touched by everyone’s generosity.
Together, you helped us raise an amazing £169.
And we’re delighted to share that Carol has very generously matched every pound raised, bringing our final total to…
🥁 £338 for Macmillan Cancer Support! 💚
Thank you to our brilliant team for baking, organising and keeping the cake table well stocked, and to every single person who helped make the day such an enjoyable one.
Days like this remind us just how lovely the community around Evolve really is. 💚
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #EvolveDentistry #PortisheadCommunity
Being shortlisted for Team of the Year means a lot to us, but not because of the trophy.
It’s because dentistry is never the work of one person.
It’s the nurse who notices you’re nervous before you’ve said a word. The reception team member who remembers the conversation you had last time. The clinician who takes time to explain something again. The person behind the scenes making sure your visit runs smoothly.
Those small things happen every day at Evolve, and they only happen because people care about the experience we create together.
So being a finalist gives us a lovely excuse to say something we probably don’t say often enough: we’re incredibly proud of this team.
#PrivateDentistryAwards #TeamOfTheYear #DentalTeam #EvolveDentistry
You might notice a familiar face missing from Evolve for a little while… 💚
Carol is heading to Zambia with SmileStar, a dental charity providing free dental care to communities with limited access to treatment.
In this video, Carol shares a little more about where she’s going, what she’ll be doing while she’s there and why she wanted to be part of the trip.
It’s going to be a very different couple of weeks away from the practice, and we’re incredibly proud to see Carol giving her time and skills to support SmileStar’s work.
We’ll be sharing a little more from her trip when we can, but for now, we’ll let Carol tell you all about it in her own words. 💚
Safe travels, Carol. We can’t wait to hear all about it when you’re home!
#EvolveDentistry #SmileStar #Zambia #Dentistry #Portishead
🍰 Come and join us today! 💚
Our Macmillan Coffee Morning is in full swing at Evolve Dentistry, and we’d love to see you!
We’ve got plenty of delicious homemade cakes waiting for you, so pop in, say hello, grab a slice (or two!) and help us raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
We’ll be serving cakes right through until 5pm today, so there’s still plenty of time to come down.
📍 Evolve Dentistry, Portishead
🍰 Cakes until 5pm
💚 Everyone is welcome
Come hungry! 😋
#MacmillanCoffeeMorning #MacmillanCancerSupport #Portishead #PortisheadCommunity #EvolveDentistry
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