Emergency Endodontics

What is Emergency Endodontics?

You may need emergency endodontics when a dental pulp problem arises. This is the soft part of the tooth, right at its center, in the pulp chamber. These tissues include the tooth nerve, blood vessels, and connective tissue.

Damage to these tissues can result in inflammation and infection. Emergency endodontics can treat the dental pulp, helping to protect and restore the tooth and preventing its loss.

Types of Emergency Endodontics

The following are situations where you may experience dental trauma and need emergency endodontic care.

• Knocked out tooth.
• Partially dislodged tooth.
• Severe tooth fracture.

Signs You May Need Emergency Endodontic Care

If you damage a tooth, it can cause symptoms including:

• Loose teeth.
• Toothache.
• Tooth discolouration.
• Increased sensitivity to temperature changes.
• Swollen gums or bleeding.
• Jaw pain.
• Facial swelling.

Our Emergency Endodontic Services

Below is a brief overview of the emergency endodontic services we offer. If you need advanced endodontics, we may refer you to a specialist we trust to care for you. We will liaise with them to ensure you receive the very best care possible.

Treatment for Knocked-Out Teeth

A knocked-out tooth can sometimes be replaced in its socket, but you need to act quickly. Treatment is more effective within the first 30 minutes to an hour after the accident.

We can assess the tooth to see if it can be saved, and if so, we will replant it and stabilize it by splinting it to a nearby tooth.

Stabilizing Dislodged or Loose Teeth

A dislodged or loose tooth needs to be stabilized quickly. Our emergency endodontist can assess its condition, reposition it, and likely splint it in place. Splinting it will hold it firmly in position until the tooth can heal.

Root Canal Treatment

If a severe fracture has exposed the dental pulp, root canal treatment is needed to remove the pulp and help restore the tooth. Prompt treatment will eliminate any tooth pain and enable us to restore the tooth afterward.

Draining a Dental Abscess

A severe tooth infection can develop into a dental abscess. One sign of an abscess is a pimple on the gum where pus is building up, and this may need to be drained.

Pulpotomy

This is a type of root canal procedure used to treat a child’s tooth that is still growing and developing.

During treatment, the dental pulp in the tooth crown is removed, but the pulp tissues in the tooth roots are left intact. This is to help protect and preserve the tooth and allow it to continue developing normally.

Apicoectomy

An apicoectomy is used during root canal retreatment. It may be necessary when a root-treated tooth becomes reinfected.

Treatment removes the root tip. It can also be used to treat a tooth fracture or to treat bone loss around a tooth.

What to Expect If You Need Emergency Endodontics

If you have a painful tooth or know it has been damaged, get in touch with us immediately. We can discuss the issue over the phone and provide guidance on handling the emergency until your appointment.

Below is what to expect when you come to see us, but this is only a rough guide since there are many situations requiring emergency endodontic treatment

1. Immediate Assessment

Our emergency endodontist will gently examine your mouth and ask about your symptoms, evaluating the extent of the tooth trauma. We also check the soft tissues inside your mouth, as sometimes these can be damaged and will start to bleed if you have suffered a blow to the mouth or some other form of trauma.

Digital dental X-rays are required, and we may want to take other digital imaging, such as a cone beam CT scan. This 3-D scan of your teeth and jaws allows us to evaluate any damage to the structures from multiple angles.

2. Pain Relief

During this appointment, we can provide immediate pain relief. We can also offer guidance on using over-the-counter pain relief after your appointment or, if needed, prescribe a stronger option.

3. Urgent Dental Care

If you need urgent dental care, we will numb your mouth to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed during treatment.

Procedures provided during an emergency appointment may include urgent root canal therapy or draining a dental abscess. We can splint loose teeth, reposition them, and reinsert teeth that may have been knocked out.

Any damage to your mouth can increase the risk of infection, so we will likely disinfect the tooth and may prescribe antibiotics to reduce this risk.

4. Follow-Up Treatment and Plan

You will likely need to return to our dental office for further treatment to assess the tooth’s condition and restore it. It is extremely important to attend any follow-up appointments, as these are designed to ensure your tooth remains strong and stable and lasts longer.

What to Do before You Arrive

Any form of dental emergency can be quite scary, but please don’t worry, as we are here to help you, and we will give you clear instructions over the phone. Some useful tips are also below.

• Use over-the-counter pain relief as directed on the packaging. Don’t exceed the dose or place the painkiller directly on the gum, as you could burn this tissue.
• If you feel able, you can try to reinsert a knocked-out tooth, but you must make sure it faces the right way around, and you shouldn’t force it. Once in your socket, hold it there with a clean finger or bite down very gently on a clean tissue and come and see us immediately.
• Store a knocked-out tooth in a little milk or saliva, or in a small amount of water with a pinch of salt. Try not to touch the tooth root, and do not disturb any loose pieces of tissue still attached.
• Use a cold compress held to the outside of your face for any facial swelling and bruising.
• Use a clean gauze pad or tissue and gentle pressure to stop any bleeding. You can also try using a damp teabag as the tannins help to shrink blood vessels.

Benefits of Urgent Endodontic Care

It is crucial to come and see us quickly, and we can’t emphasize this enough. When we can see patients urgently after any form of trauma, we’re more likely to save an injured tooth and prevent infection from spreading. We can help relieve any pain quickly, so you feel more comfortable very soon.

Getting professional endodontic care also helps protect your overall health. Being able to eat comfortably is important for good nutrition, and treating tooth infections prevents the harmful bacteria that cause them from harming your overall health.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will Emergency Endodontics Hurt?

No, as we will administer a local anesthetic and ensure your mouth is numb before we begin treatment. The actual treatment will help relieve dental pain.

2. Can a Knocked-Out Tooth Always Be Saved?

Unfortunately, not always and time important. The sooner you come and see us, the more likely we are to save your tooth.

3. When Should I Go to the ER Instead of a Dental Office?

Go to your nearest ER if you are unable to come and see us immediately for a knocked-out tooth, so that they can help you.

You should go to the ER if you have uncontrolled bleeding due to trauma or if there is a risk that you have damaged your jaws or facial bones. In this case, you would need to see an oral maxillofacial surgeon.

Always go to the ER if you cannot reach an emergency endodontist and have a severe tooth infection that is also causing a high fever, facial swelling, and making you feel very unwell. It is rare, but there are occasions when a dental abscess can become life-threatening, and you must get urgent care.