When You Might Need an Endodontist for a Dental Emergency
Seeing an endodontist may be necessary if you have a fever and experience extreme tooth pain. Feeling a pus-filled lump or abscess in the gum line may also suggest a dental emergency. Another sign to watch out for is soreness when touching the tooth. Sensitivity to hot and cold foods and drinks is also a symptom. Swelling, discoloration, and blood in or near the tooth may also need an endodontist’s attention.
How can an endodontist help with a dental emergency?
Persistent tooth pain and significant dental injuries may need treatment from an endodontist. Endodontists complete additional education and training to focus on the interior of the teeth. They can diagnose and treat tooth pain. If a patient has cracked or infected teeth, an endodontist can help. The same goes for those with inflamed bone tissues underneath the gums. They can fix problems affecting the soft tissues and nerves inside a tooth.
When might a patient need endodontic services?
One of the common reasons a patient may have to see an endodontist is to get a root canal treatment. Each tooth has a space known as the root canal. The passageway extends from the tooth’s crown down to the end of the root. It contains the dental pulp, which is made up of soft tissues, nerves, and blood vessels. It is vulnerable to dental caries, fractures, and broken or leaky restoration. These adverse stimuli provide pathways for microorganisms to penetrate the pulp.
How a root canal procedure may restore oral health
The pulp reacts to irritants by becoming inflamed. If left untreated, the problem may advance to pulp necrosis (cell death) and infection. When this occurs, an endodontist may have to perform a root canal procedure to preserve the tooth. The treatment involves drilling into the affected tooth and removing the infected tissues. Then, the endodontist will fill in the cleaned-out space and cap the tooth off with a crown.
A root canal procedure may restore oral health. It may be a treatment option if the damage in the tooth’s interior occurred following an injury. It could also be a solution if the problem was due to a cavity or untreated tooth damage that led to an infection. Without the help of an endodontist, the only option left may be tooth extraction. By bringing the issue to an endodontist, they can check the source of the tooth pain and make a recommendation to resolve the matter.
The role of an endodontist in preserving your smile
An infection can get inside the tooth due to unfilled cavities or trauma. With endodontic care, fixing these internal tooth issues is possible. An endodontist can perform standard dental treatments and many delicate or complex procedures. An emergency root canal procedure, for example, can provide instant relief from seemingly unbearable tooth pain. The goal is to repair and save the tooth that is in serious trouble and offer you comfort.
Request an appointment here: https://www.sheats-endo.com or call Sheats Endodontic Group at (615) 526-2495 for an appointment in our Nashville office.
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