Single-sitting root canal treatment removes infected pulp, cleans and disinfects the canals, and seals them — all in one appointment. At Smile Gallery in Arera Colony, Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava (DCI: A-04860) uses rotary endodontics for predictable, comfortable care.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava, BDS MDS Prosthodontist, Certified Digital Smile Designer (DSD) (DCI: A-04860). Last updated: May 2026.
Single-sitting root canal treatment in Bhopal is a one-appointment endodontic procedure in which the infected pulp is removed, the canals cleaned and shaped with rotary instruments, and the tooth filled and sealed before you leave the chair — exactly the approach used by Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava, BDS MDS Prosthodontist (DCI: A-04860) at Smile Gallery Dental Wellness Centre, Arera Colony, for patients from New Market and surrounding areas. With careful case selection and modern instrumentation, root canal treatment has a 95% success rate over 10 years.
Why Single-Sitting RCT Is Possible Today
Three changes in technique have made single-sitting root canal treatment routine for suitable cases. Rotary nickel-titanium files clean and shape the canals faster and more accurately than older hand files. Apex locators measure canal length electronically, reducing repeated X-rays. Improved irrigation protocols disinfect the canal system more thoroughly in less time. Together, these allow the entire procedure to be completed in 60 to 90 minutes for most teeth.
Step-by-Step in the Chair
The visit begins with a digital X-ray and a clinical exam to confirm the diagnosis. Local anaesthesia is given so the procedure is comfortable. A small access opening is made through the crown of the tooth, and the infected pulp is removed using rotary instruments. The canals are flushed with disinfecting solutions, dried, and filled with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. The access opening is then sealed with a temporary or permanent filling.
According to Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava, MDS Prosthodontist: "Single sitting root canal treatment is possible today because three technologies arrived together: rotary nickel-titanium files that shape canals in a fraction of the time hand files needed, apex locators that measure canal length electronically without repeated X-rays, and irrigation protocols that disinfect the entire canal system in one visit. Remove any one of these, and multiple visits become necessary again."
When a Second Sitting Is Still Needed
Not every tooth is suitable for single-sitting treatment. Teeth with active pus drainage, severe infection that has spread into the surrounding bone, or unusual canal anatomy may need two visits. In such cases, the canals are cleaned in the first visit, and medication is placed inside to settle the infection before sealing in the second visit. The decision is always made after examining the tooth and the X-ray.
"I have performed root canal treatments on patients who arrived resigned to 4 or 5 visits over two months, and when I tell them we will be done today in one sitting, the relief on their face is immediate — and they spend the next week telling every friend with a toothache to stop putting it off."
Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava · BDS, MDS Prosthodontist, DCI A-04860
After Your Root Canal — What to Expect
Mild tenderness when biting on the treated tooth is normal for the first two to three days and settles with simple pain medication. Avoid hard or sticky foods on that side until the permanent restoration is placed. Most patients return to work or routine activity the same day. Detailed written aftercare instructions are provided.
- You will be numb throughout — A root canal is performed under local anaesthesia. You will feel pressure and movement, but not pain. If any sensation feels sharp, raise your hand — the dentist will top up the anaesthetic. The procedure itself is typically no more uncomfortable than having a filling placed.
- The appointment takes 60 to 90 minutes for most teeth — Front teeth with single canals take closer to 45 minutes. Multi-rooted molars with 3 or 4 canals take up to 90 minutes. You will be asked to keep your mouth open with a rubber dam in place; this keeps the tooth dry and clean throughout. Bring earphones.
- Not every case can be done in one sitting — Severely infected teeth with active swelling, heavily calcified canals, or teeth where the patient cannot tolerate prolonged opening may require 2 visits. Your dentist will assess and confirm eligibility at the start. Do not accept a single sitting guarantee from any clinic before this assessment is done.
- Mild soreness for 2 to 3 days is normal — The tissues around the root tip may be tender for a day or two after treatment as the inflammation resolves. Over-the-counter ibuprofen manages this comfortably. Avoid chewing hard food on that side until the permanent crown is fitted, usually within 1 to 2 weeks after the root canal.
- The crown is mandatory, not optional — A root-canal-treated tooth is structurally weakened and will fracture under normal chewing forces without a crown. This fracture is usually unrestorable, meaning the tooth is lost. The root canal saves the tooth; the crown protects the investment. Skipping the crown defeats the purpose of the procedure. If a full crown is not immediately affordable, ask about a temporary fibre-post restoration while you plan.
Crown After RCT — Why It Matters
A root-canal-treated back tooth has lost much of its internal structure and becomes more brittle over time. A crown placed within a few weeks of the root canal protects the tooth from fracture and seals the underlying filling. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons root canal teeth fail later, even when the canal work itself was successful.
According to Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava, MDS Prosthodontist: "The single biggest reason patients delay root canal treatment in Bhopal is the expectation of multiple long appointments — an expectation based on how the procedure worked twenty years ago. With modern rotary endodontics, the typical single sitting root canal at Smile Gallery takes 60 to 90 minutes, and most patients tell me afterwards that it was less eventful than a filling."
The clinical case and outcome are from Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava's practice.
Deepak had been nursing the same toothache for 11 days before he walked into Smile Gallery. He was 38, a software engineer from BHEL Colony, and he had been managing the pain with a rotating combination of ibuprofen, clove oil, and denial. He booked the appointment only when the pain woke him at 3 AM on a Thursday.
"I know I need a root canal," he said, before I had looked at a single tooth. "My uncle had it done years ago. It took 4 visits and he said it was horrible." He had been dreading this moment for over a decade on his uncle's behalf. I told him to let me examine the tooth before we made any predictions.
The periapical X-ray showed a deep carious lesion in the lower left first molar with clear periapical rarefaction — a dark shadow at the root tips indicating bone resorption from chronic infection. The pulp was necrotic, the canals were patent on probing, and there was no active swelling. This was a straightforward candidate for single sitting root canal treatment. I told him we could finish today.
"Today? In one go?" He looked genuinely uncertain whether to be relieved or more suspicious. "My uncle's dentist said it always needs multiple visits." I explained that his uncle's treatment was likely performed with hand files and no apex locator — the standard of care in the early 2000s. The procedure he was about to have used rotary instruments, electronic canal measurement, and a sonic irrigation system. The canal anatomy had not changed. The tools had.
We placed a rubber dam, administered inferior alveolar nerve block, and confirmed profound anaesthesia before beginning. Access was opened, and the rotary files cleaned and shaped all 3 canals over approximately 35 minutes. Canal length was confirmed electronically with the apex locator and verified on a working length X-ray. Irrigation with sodium hypochlorite and EDTA, followed by a final rinse with chlorhexidine. The canals were dried and obturated with warm gutta-percha using the continuous wave technique. Access cavity sealed with composite.
Total chair time: 75 minutes. Deepak sat up, worked his jaw experimentally, and said nothing for a moment. Then: "That's it? We're done?" I told him we were done with the root canal. The crown appointment would be in 10 days. "My uncle is going to be so annoyed when I tell him," he said. I told him dental technology had earned that reaction.
The zirconia crown was cemented at his second appointment 11 days later. At the 6-month review, the periapical X-ray showed complete bone fill at the previously infected root tips — the dark shadow had resolved. The tooth was asymptomatic, the crown was intact, and Deepak had returned to chewing on that side within a week of the crown placement. He had forwarded the clinic's contact to 3 colleagues at his office who had been avoiding their own root canal appointments. "I told them exactly what my uncle told me," he said, "and then I told them what actually happened."
BDS, MDS Prosthodontist · DCI A-04860 · Smile Gallery, Bhopal
| Follow-up | 6 months post-crown placement |
| Root canal | Asymptomatic; periapical bone fill confirmed on X-ray |
| Chair time | 75 minutes (single sitting, 3-canal lower molar) |
| Zirconia crown | Intact, full occlusal contact, no secondary decay at margins |
| Chewing function | Restored to that side within 1 week of crown placement |
| Ongoing care | Annual check-up + X-ray every 2 years to monitor periapical healing |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does single-sitting root canal treatment involve?
Removal of infected pulp, cleaning and shaping of the canals with rotary instruments, disinfection, and sealing — all completed in one appointment of 60 to 90 minutes per tooth.
Is this treatment available at Smile Gallery in Bhopal?
Yes. Smile Gallery, in Arera Colony, offers single-sitting and multi-visit root canal treatment with rotary endodontics under Dr. Saurabh Shrivastava (DCI: A-04860).
How long does the treatment take?
Most teeth are completed in 60 to 90 minutes. Molars with multiple canals may take slightly longer.
What should I expect after the procedure?
Mild tenderness on biting for two to three days, easily managed with prescribed medication. The permanent crown is fitted within two to four weeks.How do I book an appointment at Smile Gallery, Arera Colony?
Call +91 9200700750 to schedule. Same-day slots are usually available for active dental pain.
Ready for a consultation?
Visit Smile Gallery Dental Wellness Centre, E-4/205, Main Rd 3, near Flower Market, E-4, Arera Colony, Bhopal.
Open Monday to Saturday 10am–2pm and 5–9pm.
