Every year, millions of Americans have root canal treatment to save badly damaged teeth. While some root canal treatments are planned out in advance, others need to be performed on an emergency basis in order to relieve acute symptoms of pain and prevent more serious complications from developing.
At Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC, our team offers emergency root canal treatment using advanced techniques and technology to help New York City patients maintain optimal oral health. In this post, learn about four situations when an emergency root canal is probably going to be your best course of treatment.
When a tooth needs a root canal, it’s probably going to be associated with some painful symptoms or sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. In most cases, these symptoms can be managed with over-the-counter pain medicine or other “home remedies” until your appointment date arrives.
But if you have extreme pain that makes it difficult to eat, sleep, or concentrate on other activities, that’s a clear sign that you need to be seen immediately. Severe pain can indicate a very significant infection or other damage involving the tooth root or even your jaw bone. Emergency root canal treatment doesn’t just relieve your symptoms — it’s necessary to save the tooth and prevent more serious problems.
Gum swelling can happen for different reasons, including tooth damage, infection, and gum disease. When you have significant swelling, swelling accompanied by pain, or swelling accompanied with a discharge of sour-tasting pus, those symptoms absolutely need to be evaluated immediately, and they could also mean you need an emergency root canal.
Root canal therapy is a good solution for infections inside the center part of your tooth (the tooth pulp). These infections can cause a lot of pain and temperature sensitivity inside the tooth.
Gum swelling typically happens when that infection spreads, causing inflammation and irritation in the gum tissues or even inside your jaw bone. Emergency root canal is essential for stopping the infection and preventing it from traveling to other parts of your body through your bloodstream.
Most people think of root canals for teeth damaged by deep decay and infection. But root canals are also used for teeth damaged by injuries like falls, car accidents, and sports accidents. Any injury that involves an impact to your face or jaw could result in an injury to your teeth and the roots and tissues that support them.
When a tooth has traumatic damage, root canal therapy can help stabilize the tooth and its root, preserving teeth and preventing them from further damage. Once the tooth itself is treated and stabilized, a crown provides additional strength to ensure the tooth is able to function normally once again.
Some tooth fractures or cracks happen from traumatic injuries, but a tooth can crack or break for other reasons, too. Years of chewing and biting can take a toll on your teeth, especially if a tooth has an existing cavity.
Very large fillings can also affect the integrity and structure of the tooth, making cracks and fractures more likely. Grinding and clenching habits are surprisingly common causes of tooth cracks that can eventually lead to larger fractures.
If you have a broken or cracked tooth, an emergency root canal is essential for protecting the tooth and preventing further damage, including tooth loss. Even a tiny crack provides plenty of room for bacteria to invade the tooth and cause a serious infection. Once the tooth pulp is removed, the team protects the tooth structure with a durable crown, helping preserve the tooth and your smile, too.
Tooth pain, tooth damage, and similar symptoms are never normal; they’re always a sign of a problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. To learn how a root canal can help or to schedule an emergency root canal treatment, call 929-229-0255 or book an appointment online at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC today.
