An Emergency Dentist Visit May Lead to a Root Canal That Saves Your Tooth

If you have a toothache, call our emergency dentist office.  We want to examine you quickly so that we can determine what is causing your tooth pain and address it immediately.  This is important because if the tooth is infected and the infection is allowed to spread, it may lead to a painful dental abscess.  This is completely avoidable with ongoing preventative dental care and a trip to the dentist at the first sign of pain and discomfort.  The key is to seek help and not let the condition continue.

In our office, we perform root canals on a regular basis because this procedure allows us to eliminate infections and save a tooth that would have otherwise needed to be pulled.  A root canal doesn't need to be performed in every case, only when the soft center of the tooth (dental pulp) becomes infected.  This area of the tooth is particularly sensitive because the roots run through it.  When the dental pulp becomes infected or swollen, the roots are directly impacted, and pain signals are sent to the brain, leading to sudden discomfort.

As an emergency dentist, we can treat your infected tooth by removing the infected area.  This is done by creating a small hole that we use to pull out the infected area.  This may be the dental pulp only or the roots as well.  By removing the infected area, you should start to feel better quickly.  We also use sedation to ensure that you remain completely comfortable during your treatment.  Most people report feeling better right away since it was the infection creating the discomfort.

Afterward, we may prescribe some antibiotics for you to take that can kill any lingering infection.  If so, it is important to take them as directed until they are all gone.  We will also need to stabilize and strengthen your tooth. This is done by restoring the missing tooth structure with a tooth-colored filling.  This way your tooth looks completely natural and there are no spaces for bacteria to enter the tooth and cause a secondary infection.  We typically use a dental crown to finish off the procedure.  In this case, a crown or cap is placed around your tooth.  It surrounds the tooth entirely so that nothing can directly come in contact with the natural tooth.  This includes food, saliva, and bacteria.

A crown serves a secondary purpose.  By strengthening the tooth, it ensures that you can bite down with full force and not experience any discomfort while you do.  This is essential because otherwise your previously infected tooth may not be strong enough to sustain daily use.  This procedure is incredibly effective, and we complete it on a regular basis to save teeth and prevent them from needing to be pulled.

If you need to see an emergency dentist for another reason like a cracked or chipped tooth, we can help with that as well.  Simply call our office to schedule your appointment.