Is a Root Canal a Dental Emergency?

A mild toothache could indicate that you have a cavity or an injury. A serious toothache is a sign of something much worse. Radiating pain that won’t go away usually means that you are dealing with a tooth infection. The longer the toothache lasts, the further the infection will spread throughout the body. The best way to prevent total tooth loss in the event of major pain is to visit your emergency dentist in Downtown LA. Depending on the severity of the infection, you may need to get a root canal done. But is a root canal a dental emergency?

Is a Root Canal a Dental Emergency?

Is a root canal a dental emergency, though? Are toothaches something that needs to be addressed right away? While the answer can vary on a case-by-case basis, a root canal is typically considered to be a dental emergency. This is especially true because bad infections could reach the bloodstream, which can be deadly. Keep reading to prepare yourself for the emergency root canal procedure should you find yourself in this situation.

Biggest Signs of a Root Canal Emergency

You should always be able to get in touch with an emergency dentist to handle your root canal treatment. Some people’s symptoms may be milder, while others may be more severe. The biggest signs that you need emergency dentistry treatment right away are intense pain, bleeding, and tooth damage that exposes the pulp. If you aren’t sure how bad your tooth infection has become, you should give yourself the benefit of the doubt and contact your endodontist as soon as you can.

How Root Canals Work

Root canals are the go-to procedure for urgent situations where an advanced infection is present. Once a tooth has become infected, it must be filled with a cavity filling. Or else the infection will get worse. Eventually, it can spread to the pulp of the tooth, which is where the tooth stores its nerves that connect to the rest of the body. Once the infection reaches the pulp, it is classified as a dental emergency and a root canal treatment is needed to remove the affected pulp.

The typical steps of a root canal treatment are as follows:

• X-Rays and testing. Your dentist will take pictures of the damaged tooth to determine whether treatment is necessary – and if so, what type of treatment would be best.
• Infection treatment. If you have a bad tooth infection, your dentist may want you to take antibiotics to get rid of the infection before you go through the root canal procedure itself.
• Pulp and nerve removal. During your procedure, the dentist will use a numbing agent in your mouth so you don’t feel pain throughout the process. Your pulp and nerves will be removed from the tooth, getting rid of the infected material.
• Tooth sealing. After the tooth is cleaned out from the inside, your dentist might have to seal it with a special material. In a future appointment, the restoration will be completed with a crown or dental bonding.

Patients are famously afraid of root canal procedures. And it is understandable why anyone would have hesitation about enduring a treatment like this. At Samaritan Dental Arts, we make it a priority to help you feel comfortable and at ease while giving you the best treatment for your symptoms. Root canals are nothing to be afraid of; the whole process will be over and done with before you know it!

Get an Emergency Root Canal ASAP

If you have a toothache that just won’t go away or infectious pain that is just getting worse, you should visit your emergency dentist right away. Be sure to get in touch with our root canal specialist in Downtown LA and schedule an emergency appointment as soon as possible. Don’t delay your health any longer!