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SINGLE vs MULTIPLE Visit Root Canal Treatment

A patient is usually experiencing discomfort and/or has an infection present on the radiograph of the specific tooth upon referral to an endodontist.

It is within this scenario that I am a firm believer in MULTIPLE visit endodontic treatment:

  1. If a case is completed in one visit and symptoms persist, the etiology of the problem is never found nor corrected.
  2. If symptoms still persist after a one visit root canal treatment, there is indiscriminate use of antibiotics and analgesics which still may not resolve the problem.
  3. If a case is completed in one visit, a fracture may not have been located and/or searched for properly.
  4. If a case is completed in one visit, another root may not have been located and/or searched for properly.
  5. A symptomatic tooth AND the patient need to get back to feeling NORMAL---NO DISCOMFORT---before a root canal case is completed.

SINGLE visit root canal should be considered upon:

  1. Esthetic concerns.
  2. The nerve is exposed on an asymptomatic tooth.
  3. Extenuating circumstances.

Robert B. Light, DMD

Board Certified

Shedding "LIGHT"

on Root Canal

for over 25 years