Root canal
A typical case, in 7 steps over 3 visits. Typically less than a week to recover; a crown, if needed, typically takes 2 more appointments. Every step names its source.
Not yet reviewed by a licensed clinician. Every step names its source.
Root canal · Visit 1
Numbing
The area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic.
Source: clevelandclinic.org
Steps in a typical case
Numbing
The area around the tooth is numbed with a local anesthetic.
Visit 1 · Source 1
Keeping the tooth dry
A thin rubber sheet called a dental dam, or cotton, is placed around the tooth to keep it clean and dry during treatment.
Visit 1 · Source 1
Opening the tooth
A small hole is made in the top of the tooth to reach the pulp, the soft tissue inside.
Visit 1 · Source 1
Cleaning the inside
Tiny tools remove the infected pulp. The inside of the tooth is then cleaned and disinfected.
Visit 1 · Source 1
Filling and sealing
The empty space is filled with a rubbery dental material, and a temporary filling seals the tooth. Most root canals take about 60 to 90 minutes, and some need more than one visit.
Visit 1 · Source 1
Preparing for the crown
At a later visit, the tooth is prepared for a permanent crown that protects it and restores the bite.
Visit 2 · Source 1
Crown placed
The permanent crown is placed. Most people recover from a root canal in less than a week.
Visit 3 · Source 1
Typical trade-offs
| Visits | Typically 1 or 2 visits, plus a follow-up visit for a filling or crown. Source 2 |
|---|---|
| Time to final result | Typically less than a week to recover; a crown, if needed, typically takes 2 more appointments. Source 1 |
| How long it lasts | Typically lasts many years, often a lifetime. Source 1 |
| Upkeep | Typical upkeep: brushing twice a day, cleaning between teeth daily and regular dental visits. Source 2 |
Figures for a typical case from the sources below. A dentist can say how a given case differs.
Questions to ask your dentist
- The typical case takes 3 visits. How many would I need, and what happens at each one?
- What are my other options, including waiting, and what happens if I wait?
- How long does it usually last in a case like mine, and what upkeep will it need?
- Will it hurt, and what can I eat or do while it heals?
- What will it cost me, and will my insurance cover it? Ask which billing codes apply (the typical case uses D3310, D3320, D3330).
- How many of these have you done, and who would do mine?
Sources
- Root canal. Cleveland Clinic. my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21759-root-canal. Accessed November 6, 2026.
- Root canals. ADA MouthHealthy. www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/root-canals. Accessed November 10, 2026.
Osler Press procedure library, version 2026.11.0. Billing codes for the typical case: D3310, D3320, D3330.