Why You Should See An Endodontist For Your Dental Emergency

A dental emergency can occur at any time. From a severe toothache to a cracked tooth, some dental situations are urgent and need immediate treatment. It is important to act quickly, because the sooner your tooth is treated, the more likely it can be saved.  Where should you go in a dental emergency? Learn about the endodontist’s role in emergency dentistry.

What is an Endodontist? 

An endodontist is a dental specialist whose primary focus is help remove diseased nerve from a tooth.  Inside of each tooth is soft tissue containing blood vessels and nerves that sustain the tooth. When a tooth is damaged, the dental pulp is at risk of infection. Bacteria can enter the root canal through a crack, chip, or deep cavity and infect the pulp inside. Endodontists treat and prevent tooth infections with procedures such as root canals and apicoectomies.

What Dental Emergencies Can an Endodontist Treat? 

Examples of dental emergencies that endodontists are qualified to treat include: 

• Toothache: A toothache typically indicates that the tooth is infected and will need a root canal. 
• Cracked tooth: A cracked tooth is at risk of infection and will need a root canal and crown. 
• Chipped tooth: A chipped tooth may be at risk of infection if the chip is large enough. The tooth may need a root canal and crown, or it may simply need composite bonding to reshape the tooth. 
• Fractured tooth: A tooth with a significant fracture will need a root canal and crown, if there is enough tooth material left to save it. 
• Loose or dislodged tooth: A permanent tooth that is loose or has been knocked out can often be saved if it is put back in place quickly. 
• Lost filling: If a filling comes out it may cause pain or expose the tooth to infection. It will need to be refilled as soon as possible. 
• Loose, lost, or broken crown: If you have a dental crown that becomes loose, comes off, or breaks should be replaced right away.

Why Choose an Endodontist for Emergency Dental Care? 

Most dental emergencies need to be treated with endodontic procedures, such as a root canal, for the tooth to be saved. This is why an endodontist is most often the right dental specialist to contact in a dental emergency. Other reasons include: 

• Advanced equipment: An endodontist will have the necessary equipment to
• diagnose and treat the problem with the greatest chance of success. 
• Experience: Endodontists have specific experience with the type of dental
• emergency you have. They will know exactly what to do for the best chance of
• saving the tooth. 
• Efficiency: With experience comes efficiency. Your dental emergency can be
• treated promptly in a situation where timing is crucial.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Emergencies

What is considered a dental emergency? 

If you’re not sure if the situation you are facing would be considered an emergency, ask yourself this question: can treatment for this situation wait until the next day? If the answer is no, you have an emergency. Severe pain, a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth, or any of the other emergencies listed above would qualify.

What should you do with a knocked out tooth?

If it is a permanent tooth, pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the roots. Rinse it off carefully (plug the drain first) and put the tooth back in the socket. Bite down on some sterile gauze and call Advanced Endodontics. If you can’t get it back in the socket, place it in a cup of milk and bring it with you to our office after contacting us. Do not put a baby tooth back in the socket, as it could damage the permanent tooth underneath it. 

Why Choose Advanced Endodontics for Dental Emergencies?

When you’re faced with a dental emergency, you may feel frightened, worried, or at the very least, stressed. Advanced Endodontics provides reassurance in a calm, compassionate manner that will put you at ease. You can rest assured that we will provide fast, expert care with the goal of saving your tooth or teeth.  

In case of a dental emergency during normal office hours, call 352-404-5550. After hours please call our emergency helpline: 407-347-6874. If the emergency is life-threatening, call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department.