The words “emergency root canal” may scare people, but this dental procedure can actually end unbearable tooth pain. People need a root canal when there is an infection inside the tooth in the pulp and nerve. This often happens because of decay, and bacteria literally gets inside the tooth. You may not feel any pain when this first happens, but over time an infection inside your tooth will feel far worse than a regular toothache.
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- We Can Treat All Types of Pain, Aches and Infections.
Another symptom of trouble may be a small bump near the tooth, which is a sign that an abscess (pocket of pus) could be forming in the gums. Another sign of a damaged tooth is the discoloration of the tooth. If your tooth has discoloration and pain, then you likely need an emergency root canal.
If left untreated, an infection can lead to the loss of the tooth. The infection could possibly spread to other areas of the body, which is called sepsis. That situation would need emergency medical care in a hospital. The good news is an infected tooth can be easily treated early on, but if you wait too long there can be painful consequences.
At our office, you will be given some pain killer by our dentist to keep you comfortable during an emergency root canal. You may feel some pressure, but you should not feel pain. During a root canal, our dentist will drill into your tooth, and flush out the root and pulp to stop the infection from spreading.
The pulp and nerves may have to be removed, but that will eliminate the pain. After disinfecting the inside of the tooth, our dentist will seal the area. Following the root canal, our dentist may do a filling or crown to restore the tooth structure.
Sometimes a tooth needs an emergency root canal after it has been damaged by an accident, often sports related. If the damage reaches the pulp, you may need a root canal to keep your tooth. You will likely know the pulp is injured if you feel pain when anything touches the tooth.
The way to prevent an emergency root canal is to get regular dental check-ups. Normally, composite fillings are enough to treat tooth decay. However, if you wait until an infection gets inside the tooth, then you will need a root canal, or a tooth extraction (removal).
If you are feeling serious pain and have symptoms of an infection (swollen gums, tooth discoloration, abscess in the gum), your body is telling you that something is wrong. The sooner an infected tooth is treated, the more problems can be avoided. Tooth pain that does not go away can get worse can turn into an emergency.
If you suspect you may need an emergency root canal, or are suffering unbearable pain, please call our office at 702-803-1787. We can get you in with a same-day appointment with our dentist can try to save your tooth and stop the pain. Do not wait to seek help or try to “fix” your tooth at home. If our office is closed, seek help at the nearest emergency room, and follow up later with our dentist.