Can you get an emergency root canal

From An Experienced Emergency Dentist

If you suddenly experience a severe toothache late at night or on the weekends it’s important that you know what to do. It may be tempting to just call the closest dentist to get help, but that could end up causing more problems than it solves. An emergency root canal can be a complicated procedure. That’s why you need to make sure that the after hours dentist you see is appropriately experienced and trained in this procedure.

A root canal is a very common procedure that’s performed when a tooth becomes infected because of decay or poor oral health. The infection can cause the tissue inside the tooth to become diseased and damaged. If it isn’t treated at this stage, then the tooth will have to be extracted and the infection can also spread, causing problems with other teeth and with the rest of the mouth.

This can come on quite suddenly. You may have a tooth that bothers you a little for a while, and then suddenly one night you’re in a lot of pain and looking for an after hours dentist. But this is where you need to be careful. Although root canals are common, that doesn’t mean that you should just see the first dentist who answers the phone. As Dr. Oberoi from Emergency Dentists Sydney says, “A root canal is a complex procedure so it’s important that the staff are trained properly so that patients get the best treatment.”

It’s fairly easy for something to go wrong during this procedure, or for infected tissue to be missed, which can affect the outcome and lead to a tooth extraction. So if you want to avoid complications, you need to make sure that your after hours dentist is appropriately experienced and trained in the procedure.


Emergency Dentist Sydney

If you suddenly need an emergency root canal late at night or on the weekend, you need to know that you’re in good hands. As Dr. Oberoi states, “Patients are nervous and have limited choice in who they see out of hours, so they need to know that their dentist can do the job properly.”

The staff at Emergency Dentist Sydney have been focussed on emergency procedures for many years and have performed literally thousands of root canals. They have experience in almost every type of dental emergency imaginable, from toothaches to broken teeth and problems with fixtures such as crowns and veneers. So no matter what’s happened to your teeth, you can get the help you need from our 24 hour dentist whenever you need it most.

Root canal treatment (endodontics) is a dental procedure used to treat infection at the centre of a tooth.

Root canal treatment is not painful and can save a tooth that might otherwise have to be removed completely.

Why it's needed

The infection at the centre of a tooth (the root canal) is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth and invade the tooth.

This can happen after:

  • tooth decay
  • leaky fillings
  • damage to teeth as a result of trauma, such as a fall

Tooth structure 

A tooth is made up of 2 parts. The crown is the top part of the tooth that's visible in the mouth.

The root extends into the bone of the jaw, anchoring the tooth in position.

Teeth also consist of:

  • enamel – the hard outer coating
  • dentine – a softer material that supports the enamel and forms most of the tooth
  • cementum – a hard material that coats the root's surface
  • dental pulp – the soft tissue at the centre of the tooth

The root canal system contains the dental pulp and extends from the crown of the tooth to the end of the root.

A single tooth can have more than 1 root canal.

When root canal treatment is needed

Root canal treatment is needed when dental X-rays show that the pulp has been damaged by a bacterial infection.

The pulp may become inflamed if it's infected by bacteria, allowing the bacteria to multiply and spread.

The symptoms of a pulp infection include:

  • pain when eating or drinking hot or cold food and drink
  • pain when biting or chewing
  • a loose tooth

As the infection progresses, these symptoms often disappear as the pulp dies.

Your tooth then appears to have healed, but the infection has in fact spread through the root canal system.

You eventually get further symptoms such as:

  • pain when biting or chewing returning
  • swelling of the gum near the affected tooth
  • pus oozing from the affected tooth
  • a swollen cheek or jaw
  • the tooth becoming a darker colour

It's important to see your dentist if you develop toothache. If your tooth is infected, the pulp cannot heal by itself.

Leaving the infected tooth in your mouth may make it worse.

There may also be less chance of the root canal treatment working if the infection within your tooth becomes established.

Antibiotics, a medicine to treat bacterial infections, are not effective in treating root canal infections. They can though help to treat infection that spreads beyond the root and causes swelling.

How root canal treatment is done

To treat the infection in the root canal, the bacteria need to be removed.

This can be done by either:

  • removing the bacteria from the root canal system (root canal treatment)
  • removing the tooth (extraction)

But removing the tooth is not usually recommended as it's better to keep as many of your natural teeth as possible.

Before having root canal treatment, you'll usually be given a local anaesthetic.

This means the procedure should be painless and no more unpleasant than having a filling.

After the bacteria have been removed, the root canal is filled and the tooth sealed with a filling or crown.

In most cases the inflamed tissue near the tooth will heal naturally.

Root canal treatment is usually successful. In about 9 out of 10 cases a tooth can survive for up to 10 years after root canal treatment.

Find out how root canal treatment is done

Recovering from root canal treatment

It's important to look after your teeth when recovering from root canal treatment.

You should avoid biting on hard foods until your treatment is complete.

After your final treatment, your restored tooth should no longer be painful, although it may feel sore for a few days.

You can take over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve any discomfort.

Return to your dentist if you still have pain or swelling after using painkillers.

In most cases it's possible to prevent the need for further root canal treatment by:

  • keeping your teeth clean
  • not eating too much sugary food
  • giving up smoking if you smoke

Find out how to take care of your teeth and gums

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Page last reviewed: 27 January 2022
Next review due: 27 January 2025

Can a root canal be urgent?

A Root Canal Counts As An Emergency Dental Treatment A root canal is typically considered to fall under the umbrella of emergency dentistry. Tooth infections are extremely painful and uncomfortable, and they can cause serious complications if they are left untreated, including the death of the infected tooth.

Do emergency dentists do root canal?

If you're wondering whether an emergency dentist can do a root canal, the answer is “yes!” All dentists are trained to provide root canal therapy during their time at dental school. Any qualified emergency dentist at Enamel Dentistry is fully capable of performing a root canal.

How quickly can I get a root canal?

A root canal can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. It can sometimes be done in one appointment but may require two. A root canal may be done by your dentist or an endodontist. Endodontists have more specialized training for root canal treatment.

How do I know if I need an emergency root canal?

Signs that your tooth may need a root canal as soon as possible include severe toothache, discomfort when chewing or applying pressure to the tooth, prolonged sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures, discoloration of the tooth and swelling or soreness of the gum tissue around the tooth.