Is A Root Canal A Dental Emergency?

Think you might need a root canal in Glenpool, OK? Dr. Chris Andrus is happy to help treat your tooth and restore your oral health. 

But if you’re in a lot of pain right now, you might be wondering whether you can even wait for a regular-hours appointment. Would it be best for an emergency visit instead? Is a root canal even a dental emergency?

Here’s the full answer.

What Is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a procedure used to treat a large cavity or a badly infected tooth. Here are the general steps:

• Tooth assessment: You’ll get an oral exam and even an X-ray that can help determine if a root canal is necessary or if you need alternative treatments;

• Numbing the tooth: You’ll receive a local anesthetic to numb your mouth and ensure you don’t feel pain during the procedure. If necessary, dental sedation may also be available.

• Tooth cleaning: A root canal procedure involves drilling the tooth to reach the infection, then removing all that tissue with special tools. The treatment also removes bacteria from the canals, which are narrow chambers found in the natural tooth’s root.

• Disinfecting and sealing: After all visible infection is gone, the tooth is infected to kill off any other traces of bacteria, and the canals are sealed;

• Reconstruction: Root canals often end with a filling or a dental crown if the tooth loses a lot of tissue.

Most root canals are done in one sitting, but there are exceptions. Severe infections may need a round of antibiotic therapy before a dentist can treat a tooth, and teeth with strange anatomies could need multiple rounds of cleaning. 

Is a Root Canal an Emergency?

Yes. Root canals are emergency procedures because tooth infections pose serious threats to both your oral and overall health. 

Left unchecked, the infection can lead to tooth loss or even spread to other teeth or tissues of the body, like your gums or jawbone. In serious cases, it can even lead to sepsis.

What Are the Signs I Need a Root Canal?

You most likely need an emergency root canal if you’re experiencing:

• Severe pain and swelling
• Heightened sensitivity to heat or cold
• Tooth discoloration
• A dental abscess, which can look like a pimple on the gums
• Loose or even cracked tooth

If, on top of all these symptoms, you also notice a fever, you may need immediate medical attention, as it could be a sign the infection is spreading to other parts of the body.

Get a Root Canal Today

Dr. Chris Andrus regularly sees patients for same-day, weekend, or even walk-in appointments to help them get through a dental emergency.

Whether you need a root canal now or aren’t even sure you have a dental emergency, call us at (918) 943-0282 for immediate help. 

Contact the Eclipse Smiles team online for more information.