If you are in so much pain that you feel like your tooth is going to fall out, then this might be an emergency situation and you should call your dentist immediately. However, if the pain isn’t too bad and it can wait until morning, then go ahead and schedule an appointment at your dentist’s office during business hours tomorrow. Remember that root canals are generally very uncomfortable, but they aren’t emergencies! If you want to know whether or not you need an emergency root canal, here are some things to keep in mind when making your decision.
What Causes Tooth Pain
Most people don’t experience tooth pain on a daily basis, but it can become a common occurrence for those who are suffering from a dental emergency. Some people associate tooth pain with new cavities, which is why many people consider them to be urgent issues. However, dental pain often accompanies gum disease and infection in addition to cavities. Severe toothaches usually indicate that you have an emergency condition in your mouth and should visit our office right away. In fact, many dentists use terms like emergency root canal to describe procedures done when a tooth is infected and in severe pain. For more information about different dental emergencies and their causes, keep reading! A few of these could save your life!
The Importance of Treating Dental Pain Right Away
If your tooth has been causing you pain and you’ve been trying to just grin and bear it for a few days, there’s no reason to panic. Dentists don’t recommend that patients rush out for emergency root canals or other dental procedures as soon as they feel a little discomfort. That say, if your toothache is at all concerning—for example, it feels like something is broke under your gums—then it’s time to call our office. Even when we can see no cause for concern on x-rays, sometimes a painful tooth can be a symptom of another issue that could become life-threatening if left untreated.
What to Expect After Emergency Dental Treatment
After your root canal, if you have a crown or other dental work on that tooth, you may need to return to see your dentist to make sure they can accommodate your bite. Other than that, after having a root canal done in some cases you may be able to resume eating normal foods and brushing your teeth normally without worrying about it harming that tooth any further. In most cases, you can go back to work and school right away, but you should follow whatever instructions your dentist gave you for aftercare as well as abstaining from using any tobacco products for one day before resuming these activities. Overall, emergency root canal procedures are simple ways for dentists to save teeth in extreme circumstances and ensure that patients don’t have more extensive dental treatments down the road.
What to Do If You Can’t Afford Dental Treatment
Call around to see what kind of assistance programs you might qualify for. There are a number of different charities that offer assistance to people who can’t afford dental treatment. Unfortunately, these are often very short-term fixes that only address your immediate needs. You’ll still need to find a long-term solution for funding your future dental care. You should also consider asking friends and family members if they can help out with some money until you can find a more permanent solution for financial aid; just remember that many people get turn off by requests like these, so use discretion and realize that it might be tough to ask for help when you really need it.
