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Endodontic Emergency
Treatment: Overview

Dental emergencies happen all the time, but some require treatment from an endodontic specialist.

 

Endodontists frequently treat patients who are experiencing sudden and severe pain due to damaged or diseased teeth.

 

Some of the most common endodontic emergencies pertain to cracked teeth, badly infected teeth, and inflamed or infected bone tissues beneath the gums.

Seeing a specialist means getting instant pain relief and reliable treatment from someone who treats similar emergencies every day.

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Most endodontists will administer anesthesia and sedation to help you relax during your treatment. In fact, the majority of patients experience no pain at all during their procedures.

What is an Endodontic Emergency?

An endodontic emergency is defined as pain and/or swelling caused by various stages of inflammation or infection of the pulpal and/or periapical tissues (the tissues surrounding the end of the tooth root).

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Research suggests up to 85% of all dental emergencies arise from dental pulp or the tissues surrounding the apex (end) of the tooth root.

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Types Of Dental And Endodontic Emergencies

Dental Abscess

dental abscess is often caused by inflamed and infected dental pulp that is left untreated. The primary symptoms include a toothache, pain when chewing, tooth sensitivity to hot and/or cold, and swollen gums. Dr Patel specialises in treating dental abscesses with root canal treatment or endodontic surgery using surgical microscopes. This advanced technology combines fluid dynamics with a broad range of soundwaves to reach into microscopic spaces and remove bacteria, debris and tissue. After we clean and remove inflamed or infected pulp, the root canal is shaped and filled, then the space is sealed. A crown or other restoration is required to protect the tooth and fully restore its function.

Reversible Pulpitis

Pulpitis is painful inflammation of the dental pulp, caused by untreated decay, trauma or multiple restorations. In primary teeth with reversible pulpitis and vital pulp, treatment includes a protective liner, indirect pulp treatment, direct pulp capping, or a pulpotomy. In permanent mature teeth, the tooth can usually be saved with a simple filling.

In primary teeth with irreversible pulpitis or dead pulp, nonvital pulp treatment includes pulpectomy and lesion stabilization/tissue repair. The American Association of Endodontists states that mature permanent teeth clinically diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis should be treated with a pulpectomy and root canal filling, because inflamed vital pulp doesn’t have the capacity to heal.

Tooth enamel can withstand a lot of wear and tear, but clenching or chewing on hard food can lead to a cracked tooth. Other causes include loss of tooth structure due to large fillings, root-canal-treated teeth that have not been restored with crowns, and dental trauma. Symptoms include pain when chewing or biting, especially when you release the bite; sensitivity to heat, cold or sugary food and drinks; intermittent pain that is rarely continuous; and swollen gums around the affected tooth.

If you experience these symptoms and think you have a cracked tooth, it’s important to seek treatment quickly before the problem gets worse and the risk of losing your tooth increases. Cracks that extend into the pulp can be treated with a root canal procedure followed by a crown, while cracks that extend below the gum line require extraction. Chips in molars can be repaired with composite fillings, while bonding or porcelain veneers are typically used to fix chips in front teeth.

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