A root canal entails a dental procedure that aims at saving a severely infected tooth. Dentists commence the process by drilling a hole in the tooth to detach the infected pulp and nerves. The tooth is then thoroughly cleaned and sealed, which is pertinent to prevent the infection from spreading across other mouth areas. While a root canal might not seem like an emergency at first, there are cases when you can need emergency treatment. A root canal is vital in some instances because fillings are not sufficient for internal tooth decay.
This procedure is a better and effective way to save your tooth. In some cases, you might be in a dilemma of whether to contact your emergency dentist for a root canal. It is safer to consult instead of waiting until the tooth is severely damaged to be saved. The Hawthorne Dentist in Hawthorne, provides exemplary root canal services and will advise you on whether your situation requires emergency dental care. In case you need an emergency root canal, we handle your case with urgency to end the possible pain and eradicate the infection.
Why Do I Need an Emergency Root Canal?
An emergency root canal can be necessitated by symptoms caused by oral infections that can lead to tooth loss if there is a delay or when the patient cannot bear. In many cases, the pain might be so severe that it affects the victim’s daily activities. Most patients not only experience pain on the tooth, but it radiates over a large area.
You might also experience challenges when eating, and the tooth might become hypersensitive to touch. A red bump might form around the area, and this might be a sign that an abscess is forming. While any of these symptoms are bad enough, a combination of the ailments can be harmful. Such an instance should prompt you to contact your emergency dentist as soon as possible.
When the symptoms of a severely infected tooth start to show, it is vital to get the intervention of an emergency dentist to ensure the well-being of your oral health. Note that an infected pulp can occur when a cavity is not treated and when the area is injured. This can lead to further infections that might result in abscess of the tooth, loss of jawbone, infection in the root canal, and swelling of the face.
The Procedure of an Emergency Root Canal
The emergency root canal has two objectives, including the removal of the infected pulp as well as restoring the tooth. It can entail one or multiple visits to the dentist. The entire process includes the following four steps:
Oral Exam
Upon visiting your emergency dentist, the first step will be to perform an oral evaluation and take the needed X-rays. The dentist will then use anesthetics to numb the treatment area. When the affected too becomes wholly numb, and you are relaxed, the dentist puts a dental dam over the tooth. A dental dam is a latex covering that protects the affected tooth from saliva and bacteria.
Creating an Opening
After preparing the tooth, the emergency dentist gently creates an opening on top of the tooth. The opening enables the dentist to operate with tiny dental instruments to remove the infected pulp. The hole is also significant because it helps the dentist to prepare the tooth for a filing.
Filling the Root Canal
Once the damaged and infected pulp is removed, the dentist will fill in the root canals situated at the base of the tooth. The process is done using adhesive cement along with another dental material. The purpose of the adhesive cement is to attach the dental material to the root canal. In some cases, the dentist might also apply a temporary filling on the gap above the root canal.
Permanent Filling
This is the final step of the emergency root canal, and the dentist can fill the tooth with a permanent filling or a crown. While both options are significant in protecting the tooth, a crown provides additional benefits for tooth fractures. Teeth are susceptible to such fractures after a root canal. Using a crown is also helpful in restoring the shape of the affected tooth. You should also feel free to ask your emergency dentist whether sedation dentistry is available.
While the process of an emergency root canal is stigmatized as overly painful, this is far from the truth. The current advancements in dentistry and technology have brought effective anesthetics that enable the doctor to conduct the operation while you are numb and relaxed. Also, depending on the degree of sedation, you will be at ease throughout the process.
Benefits of an Emergency Root Canal
When your tooth becomes severely affected by the infection, undergoing an emergency root canal can offer the following benefits:
Prevents Spread of Infection
Having an emergency root canal can help you prevent the bacteria from the infected tooth from spreading to other teeth and mouth areas. The procedure entails the removal of the infected pulp and nerves as well as cleaning and disinfecting, which eradicates the tooth decay.
Saves Your Teeth
A significant percentage of people lose a tooth because it was severely infected and could not have been saved. However, seeking an emergency root canal can help you in saving a tooth that would have been extracted if it were not for the procedure.
Prevents the Loss of a Jawbone
The benefit of a root canal is to restore your tooth. When teeth are preserved, the jawbone remains stable and intact. A missing tooth can cause the jawbone to degenerate over time.
Improves Oral and General Health
Severe tooth decay can negatively impact your oral health. Note that a person with poor oral health is also at the risk of developing other complications, including respiratory infections and heart disease. Prolonged tooth decay is harmful to your well-being. By treating the severely infected teeth through an emergency root canal, you improve not only your oral but also overall health.
Why is the Pulp Removed in an Emergency Root Canal?
When the pulp is damaged, it disintegrates, and the bacteria start to multiply within the chamber. The bacteria multiply and combine with other decayed matter to form an abscessed tooth. The latter is a pus-filled swelling that occurs at the roots of the decaying tooth.
An infection in the root canal can also cause swelling that may spread to other areas, including the face, neck, or head. It also causes loss of bone around the tip of the root. The infection can also result in drainage problems. Therefore, an emergency root canal helps to remove the affected pulp and cleans the tooth to prevent any further spread of bacteria.
Signs that Show You Need an Emergency Root Canal
Severe Pain
Severe pain can prompt the implementation of root canal therapy, especially after the emergency dentist assesses the severity of the affected tooth. The pain is caused by a damaged and infected pulp chamber, and it does not feel like a usual toothache. You find it necessary to immediately contact your emergency dentist who might schedule an emergency root canal.
Discharge from a Tooth
An infected tooth might start releasing pus. Such a discharge is a clear depiction that the tooth is severely damaged, and you need the intervention of an emergency dentist. An infected tooth is dangerous because it can cause the extraction of the tooth or spread of the infection to other areas. After the oral exam, the emergency dentist might decide to perform an emergency root canal to save the tooth.
A Severely Affected Tooth
If a tooth is badly damaged because of trauma, an emergency root canal can save it. The reason is that such damage can directly affect the pulp and make you experience pain and discomfort whenever the tooth is touched. The emergency root canal therapy helps in removing the pulp and nerves, which eradicates the pain. The dentist then uses a crown to preserve the tooth’s appearance.
Discoloring of a Tooth
Tooth discoloration can be an indication that the nerves of a tooth are damaged. If such discoloration is associated with pain and hypersensitivity, it might be a sign that you require an emergency root canal. An emergency root canal will relieve you of the pain and restore the tooth with a crown.
Swollen Gums
A swollen gum can be a sign of the need for an emergency root canal. The symptom starts as a swollen bump in your gums but is mostly accompanied by pain. Note that this swelling does not have to be in your gums alone. The nature of your condition might cause tooth pain and make the swelling spread from the gums to the jaw and cheeks. Such a case might be a sign of a severely infected tooth. You should, therefore, contact your emergency dentist who will assess the condition and provide you with an emergency root canal if necessary.
What to do to get Relief in the Meantime before an Emergency Root Canal
In case you experience any severe or consistent tooth pain and sensitivity, the following some home remedies that can help you in minimizing the pain:
- Apply ice over the region with the sore or the affected area.
- Use over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen.
- Swish warm water and salt solution around your mouth.
- Use a cotton ball and soak it in apple cider vinegar and squeeze it carefully on the affected tooth.
What Happens After a Root Canal?
For the first few days after the procedure, the tooth might be sensitive to touch, and hot and cold drinks because of the natural tissue inflammation. Such sensitivity, however, can be managed using over the counter medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen. However, many patients can resume their daily activities the following day.
Until the emergency root canal procedure is completely done, that is, unless a crown or a permanent filling has been fit, do not use the tooth under repair to chew. Such a move prevents recontamination of the inside of the tooth and cracking of the fragile tooth. Following the root canal procedure, it is appropriate to adhere to routine oral health care of brushing, flossing, and using an antiseptic mouthwash. Also, make regular visits to your dentist so that he or she can fix any detected oral problems.
Emergency root canals are considered as surgery, and therefore, you may likely experience some discomfort during the healing process. However, the following guidelines can help in managing the associated pain and make the recovery process more comfortable:
- Follow the advice of your emergency dentist keenly.
- Use over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen, Advil, and Tylenol to manage the pain.
- Avoid applying pressure or chewing using the affected tooth until the final restoration.
- Enhance your oral hygiene routine.
Success Rate of Emergency Root Canals
Emergency root canals are very successful, with a success rate of over 95%. The procedure saves many teeth that would have otherwise been extracted. Note that many teeth that are fixed through an emergency root canal therapy can last a lifetime. Since the final step of the procedure is the restoration of the tooth through a crown or filling, other people will hardly notice that it was performed.
Complexities of an Emergency Root Canal
Though the emergency dentist might clean and restore the tooth, infections might recur after the procedure. Some of the causes of this include:
- Presence of more than the forecasted number of root canals in a tooth – In many cases, one of them is not cleaned, and it spreads bacteria.
- An unidentified fracture in the root of a tooth.
- The disintegration of the sealing component can cause the recontamination of the internal part of the tooth.
- The inadequate dental restoration that has allowed bacteria to get into the inner areas of the tooth.
While an emergency root canal is successful, endodontic surgery can be implemented to save the tooth in some cases. A root-end resection is a common endodontic procedure, and it aims at relieving the inflammation or infection in the bony section around the tooth. The process involves the opening of the gum, removing the infected tissue, and placing a seal to the root canal.
How Much Does an Emergency Root Canal Cost?
The expenses of having an emergency root canal therapy depend on the severity of the condition. However, many dental insurance entities partially provide for endodontic treatment. The estimate of an emergency root canal could range between $600 to $1100 for an incisor and $900 to $1500 for a molar.
Can I avoid Emergency Root Canals?
Emergency root canals are unpredictable, and the need for one can find you at any point in time and place. However, the likelihood of requiring an emergency root canal can be reduced by following these steps:
Have Regular Dental Checkups
Such an action can decrease your risk of needing an emergency root canal because the dentist can ensure that you do not have any infections that can severely damage your tooth. When you have dental-related problems, the doctor provides effective measures that can assist you in avoiding more dental infections that would require emergency root canal therapies.
Protective Gears
Using a mouth guard or a helmet can prevent tooth fractures or cracks that are caused during sports. These can cause cracks or fractures that can lead to the penetration of bacteria into the pulp. Some cases are caused by the habitual teeth grinding while sleeping. Note that this habit can cause a tooth to chip off, crack, or knock out entirely.
Having a mouthguard can significantly help in reducing such cases. The gear functions as a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth hence avoiding fractured or chipped teeth. Cracked teeth are vulnerable to infections, and some cases worsen to the point of requiring an emergency root canal to save them.
Desist from Chewing on Hard Objects
Some individuals are used to the practice of using their teeth to open up containers and tear non-food items when they access the relevant tools. Note that this habit is detrimental to your teeth and exposes your teeth to the risk of chip or fracture. While the crack might not be an emergency, it may expose the pulp to infections that can severely affect the tooth hence requiring an emergency root canal.
Overly cold products also harm your teeth. This is especially harmful when cold substances are preceded by hot ones because this causes abrupt contractions. Your teeth are likely to crack if this is a common practice to you. These cracks are dangerous especially if they run-up to the pulp and nerves because they enhance the spread the bacteria to these sections causing severe damage,
What Happens if I Ignore the Need of an Emergency Root Canal?
When you put off the need to have an emergency root canal, the only outcome is the loss of your tooth. The following are typical challenges associated with a tooth loss when a person fails to seek emergency root canal services:
Potential Loss of a Jawbone
Failure to get an emergency root canal can make you lose your jawbone. When a tooth is extracted and not replaced, the jawbone slowly weakens and becomes unstable. The surrounding muscles might atrophie which makes the unused jawbone vulnerable to damage.
Wobbly Teeth
When you fail to get an emergency root canal that saves your tooth, the rest of the dental structure will be unbalanced. Gum recession accompanied by tooth decay can cause your teeth to move. When you lose a tooth, you increase the shifting of the teeth because of the spaces between them. Failure to save your tooth through an emergency root canal is also associated with biting irregularities because the gaps affect the functionality of the other teeth. Furthermore, teeth loss negatively impacts your biting and can cause the unnatural wearing off of the remaining teeth.
Chewing Problems
Chewing problems are also common when you fail to get a necessary emergency root canal to save your tooth. This is true, especially when you do not replace your missing tooth. For example, the loss of the front teeth minimizes your capacity to tear food. In other words, you risk the freedom and enjoyment of eating a particular type of food that depends on certain kinds of teeth. On the other hand, losing the premolars or molars decreases your capacity to grind foods that require chewing. Consequently, this might negatively affect internal digestive organs.
Loss of Facial Beauty
Loss of facial beauty is also a common detriment caused by the loss of a tooth for not getting an emergency root canal when required. Note that teeth play a vital part in outlining the shape of your face. You can affect your facial symmetry if you fail to save your tooth. The common impact is that your lips might shrink or sink, and this changes your outlook.
Speech Problems
If you lose your teeth because of not getting the necessary emergency root canal, you might experience speech problems. This is because our teeth play a critical part in our speech patterns. Loss of teeth might make you experience difficulty in articulating some words or letters.
Find a Hawthorne Emergency Dentist Near Me
If you or your loved one believe or suspect you need an emergency root canal, it is better to contact an emergency dentist as soon as possible. The likelihood of saving the severely damaged tooth is dependent on how fast you react. At The Hawthorne Dentist, we understand that severely damaged teeth can be painful and upsetting at the same time. We provide a quick response to emergency appointments that might require emergency root canals to ensure the safety of your tooth. Through our skills and experience, we evaluate the severity of your condition and advise you on whether you need an emergency root canal to save your tooth. Do not allow your situation to escalate to a tooth loss that could have been saved. We perform safe emergency root canals and help you in regaining your oral health and confidence. Contact us at 310-775-2557
