Single-Sitting RCT

At Yuvaan Dentofacial Clinic in Siliguri, dental care is provided with advanced technology and accurate treatment planning. The learned professionals in the clinic treat a wide range of dental concerns with a deep understanding and extensive examination of the condition. Here, the patient's health is prioritised with hygiene and cleanliness, and trust is built.

Unlike traditional RCT or root canal treatment, single-sitting RCT is completed in one visit without multiple visits. In a single-sitting RCT, an infection is removed from the damaged and decayed tooth instead of removing the entire tooth. When an individual experiences a mild or severe toothache, it may indicate that a root canal treatment is required. With revolutionary advancements, one-day root canal treatment allows the dentist to complete the entire procedure in only a single sitting.

Understanding Single-Sitting RCT

A conventional RCT requires patients to visit the dental clinic two or three times. In a single-sitting RCT, dentists complete the entire procedure, including diagnosing the infection, removing pulp, cleaning and shaping of teeth, filling and sealing. It is an innovative procedure that allows patients to recover quickly in one day's visit to a dental clinic. If the infection is left untreated, it can grow manifold; hence, a single-sitting RCT can help eliminate the infection with an expert dentist’s intervention. This is achieved due to the incorporation of advanced technologies, making it faster and more convenient to manage dental infections before they turn into severe abscesses.

Key Procedures of Single-Sitting RCT

Root canal treatment removes the infection from inside the tooth, which can result from deep cavities or cracks. In saving the natural tooth, root canal is a common treatment. But single-sitting root canal patients do not need to visit the dental clinic multiple times to complete the procedure. The entire treatment is completed in a single visit when the dentist performs the procedure, including :

• Examination and Diagnostic Imaging:  In a dental clinic, the experienced endodontists begin the procedure by conducting a thorough examination and taking digital X-rays to assess the condition of the infected tooth.  This allows them to evaluate and diagnose the severity of the infection and inflammation to determine if a single-sitting root canal is suitable for the case.
• Local Anaesthesia:  After that, the endodontic treatment employs advanced techniques to ensure comfort and precise treatment. The patient is administered local anaesthesia to numb the surrounding tissues before beginning the procedure. This helps provide a painless experience to the patients.
• Access the Cavity and Cleaning: Once the area is numb, the dentists create a small access point, which is drilled through the tooth to the pulp chamber. With specialised tools the infected and inflamed pulp is removed meticulously from the chamber and shaped for effective disinfection with antibacterial solutions.
• Shaping and Filling: The canals are deeply disinfected to remove the remaining bacteria. Expert professionals use rotary instruments to shape the canals for filling. They use a biocompatible material called gutta-percha to fill and seal the canals to prevent further infection.
• Restoration: Finally, after all the procedures are completed, the dentists restore the tooth’functionality and appearance with immediate sealing of the cleaned canals and prompt placement of a permanent filling or crown, which prevents recontamination.

Benefits of a Single-Sitting RCT

A single-sitting RCT has many benefits, such as

• Convenience and Time Efficiency: Unlike traditional RCT, the entire procedure of a single-sitting RCT is completed in one appointment, which reduces tiredness and saves time for both the patients and the dentists. This is an ideal and convenient option for busy individuals.
• Minimises Risk of Reinfection: Since the entire procedure is completed in a single visit, where the tooth is cleaned and sealed, the risk of bacteria entering the tooth between the appointments is significantly eliminated, ensuring a smooth recovery process for the patient.
• Increased Comfort and Reduced Anxiety: Minimal appointments help patients with anxiety, where only one administration of local anaesthesia becomes sufficient.
• Instant Pain Relief:  In a single visit, the infected pulp is removed, and the canal is sealed, providing immediate comfort from the pain and discomfort.
• Immediate Restoration: One of the crucial advantages is that this procedure allows prompt placement of temporary or permanent restoration, enhancing the aesthetic appearance and functionalities of the tooth.
• Cost-effective: It reduces the overall treatment costs in the long run by minimising the need for multiple consultations and follow-up visits.

Outlook and Recovery

A single-sitting RCT is a modern, efficient and advantageous procedure with a high success rate. In comparison to multi-visit RCTs, this procedure is more beneficial with a crown that can help the tooth last and function for decades, often for a lifetime, when placed on a reasonable time. Single-sitting RCT is ideal in terms of time savings and pain management with over-the-counter pain relievers. It involves minimal trauma with local anaesthesia and a quick recovery from the infection. However, full recovery can take few months but it helps in rapid functional recovery.