How An Endodontist Can Save Your Injured Tooth
Like any medical emergency, dental emergencies require your quick response. If you have an injured tooth, it’s important that you see an endodontist immediately.
You should call 911 and head to an emergency room if an injured tooth has caused an abscess and you are having trouble breathing or swallowing, or if your jaw is broken. Otherwise, call your endodontist for an emergency appointment. At Phoenix Endodontic Group, we can provide emergency care 24/7, so call as soon as you need us, day or night.
Here is a quick guide to ways an endodontist might repair a tooth injury.
How Endodontists Treat Common Tooth Injuries
- If you come to your endodontist with a chipped or cracked tooth – they may recommend reattaching the tooth part with bonding material, placing a crown on the tooth to protect it from further damage, or performing a root canal if the crack in the tooth caused injury to its nerve.
- If you present with a dislodged or knocked-out tooth – they will want to know how recently the injury occurred. Teeth that have been knocked out of the mouth can sometimes be successfully placed back in the mouth if the patient sees an endodontist within 30 to 60 minutes of the incident. Avoid touching the root surface of the injured tooth and handle it carefully. For dislodged teeth, it may be possible for the endodontist to push the tooth back into place and stabilize it. Dislodged teeth sometimes also require root canal treatment.
- If you come in with a horizontal fracture – they will take images to determine the location of the fracture. A fracture near the tooth’s root may be able to be treated with a stabilizing splint, and possibly a root canal. A fracture across the root closer to the gum line is harder to treat and may result in the tooth having to be extracted.
Following many tooth injuries, your endodontist will recommend an annual check for root resorption, where your body rejects the injured tooth and dissolves the tooth root structure.
Don’t Delay – Call Our Office Immediately About Your Injured Tooth
Never delay treatment of an injured tooth. Call us at 602-242-4745 to make an appointment. Our practice offers emergency treatment options to ensure you can get the right treatment when you need it.