Emergency Dental Injuries Endodontic Treatment: Overview

Dental emergencies happen all the time, but some require treatment from an endodontic specialist. At West LA Endodontics we 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. 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.

Types of Dental Injuries That May Need Emergency Root Canal Treatment

Dislodged Teeth

Injuries to the mouth can cause teeth to be pushed back into their sockets. Your endodontist or general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. Emergency root canal treatment is usually started within a few weeks of the injury and a medication, such as calcium hydroxide, will be placed inside the tooth. Eventually, a permanent root canal filling will be implanted.

Sometimes a tooth may be pushed partially out of the socket. Again, your endodontist or general dentist may reposition and stabilize your tooth. If the pulp remains healthy, then no other treatment is necessary. Yet, if the pulp becomes damaged or infected, root canal treatment will be required.

Avulsed Teeth

If an injury causes a tooth to be completely knocked out of your mouth, it is important that you are treated immediately! If this happens to you, keep the tooth moist. If possible, put it back into the socket. A tooth can be saved if it remains moist. You can even put the tooth in milk or a glass of water (add a pinch of salt.) Your Endodontist may start root canal treatment based upon the stage of root development. The length of time the tooth was out of your mouth and the way the tooth was stored, may influence the type of treatment you receive.

Cracked Teeth

This type of crack extends from the chewing surface of the tooth and vertically migrates towards the root. In some cases, the crack may extend below the gum line. It is possible for the crack to extend further into the root. Damage to the pulp is commonplace. In this case, root canal treatment is usually necessary. A cracked tooth that is not treated will worsen, resulting in the loss of the tooth. Therefore, early detection is essential

Types of Cracked Teeth That May Need Emergency Root Canal Treatment

Cracked teeth demonstrate many types of symptoms, including pain when chewing, temperature sensitivities, or even the release of biting pressure. It is also common for pain to come and go, making it difficult to diagnose the cause of discomfort.

Chewing can cause movement of the cracked pieces of your tooth, and the pulp within the tooth becomes irritated. At the same time, when biting pressure is released, the crack can close quickly, resulting in sharp pain. Eventually, the pulp will become damaged and tooth will consistently hurt, even when you are not chewing. It is possible that cracks can lead to infection of the pulp tissue, which can spread to the bone and gum surrounding the problematic tooth.

Craze Lines

These are tiny cracks that only affect the outer enamel of the tooth. These cracks are more common in adults. These types of cracks are superficial and are usually of no concern.

Fractured Cusp

When a cusp becomes weakened, a fracture may result. The cusp may break off or be removed by a dentist. A fractured cusp rarely damages the pulp, so root canal is not necessary. Your dentist will usually restore the tooth with a full crown.

Split Tooth

A split tooth is usually the result of an untreated cracked tooth. It can be identified by a crack with distinct segments. This type of tooth can never be saved intact. Yet, the position and extent of the problem will dictate whether any portion of the tooth can be saved. Sometimes, root canal retreatment by the doctors and restoration by your dentist can be used to save a portion of the tooth.

Vertical Root Fracture

A vertical root fracture begins at the root and extends towards the chewing surface of the tooth. Unfortunately, they show minimal symptoms and may go unnoticed. Treatment involves endodontic surgery if a portion of the tooth can be saved by removal of the fractured root. Otherwise, the tooth will have to be extracted.

Emergency Root Canal Dental Procedures in Children

An injured, immature tooth may need one of the following emergency dental procedures to improve the chances of saving the tooth:

Apexogenesis

This procedure encourages the root to continue development as the pulp is healed. Soft tissue is covered with medication to encourage growth. The tip of the root (apex) will continue to close as the child gets older. In turn, the walls of the root canal will thicken. If the pulp heals, no additional treatment will be necessary. The more mature the root becomes, the better the chance to save the tooth.

Apexification

In this case, the unhealthy pulp is removed. The doctors place medication into the root to help a hard tissue form near the root tip. This hardened tissue provides a barrier for the root canal filling . At this point, the root canal walls will not continue to develop, making the tooth susceptible to fractures. So it is important to have the tooth properly restored by your dentist.

Did you know

that an emergency root canal could be the most effective means of relieving sudden and seemingly unbearable tooth pain? Often, the tell-tale sign of an endodontic emergency is tooth pain that begins moderately and progresses to get much worse. Endodontic emergencies require immediate treatment from an endodontist who can make room for your emergency day or night.

FAQs

If you are experiencing sudden, unrelenting tooth pain that is not subsiding and seems to be worsening, you should probably see an endodontist right away. Getting immediate treatment will not only help relieve your pain, but it could save your tooth too.

You can expect to be seen very quickly during your endodontic emergency. Doctor Parsa will examine your mouth and may obtain x-rays to identify the source of the pain and determine whether your tooth can be saved. You’ll be anesthetized and given treatment on the spot. After all, when you are in pain, you don’t have time to wait.

Yes. Start by maintaining your general dental appointments to have your teeth cleaned and prevent excessive decay. Avoid eating hard foods like ice that can chip, crack or break your tooth unexpectedly. Also, you can avoid the need for an endodontic retreatment by caring for your new restoration. If you maintain good oral health and regularly clean around your endodontic treatment site, your treated tooth could outlast your natural ones.