According to dentists there is no point in delaying root canal treatments. The longer you postpone a root canal treatment it is more likely that you may require an emergency root canal treatment and suffer from all the additional pain and discomfort in the process. An emergency root canal is also likely to cost more money points out a busy dentist in London.

The question that now pops up is quite obvious – is a root canal treatment considered a dental emergency? As a simple and short answer – yes, root canals are considered a dental emergency. Now, let us have the explanation to understand the underlying fact in details.

Your dentist recommends a root canal in the circumstance when your infected tooth is practically dying. The treatment is meant to save and retain a tooth that is badly infected. When you keep delaying the treatment longer the tooth has a better chance of dying. Thus your dentist is left with no better option but to extract the dead tooth to prevent further spreading of the infection. Moreover, the longer you keep waiting more pain and discomfort you have to experience thanks to the infected tooth. There is also likely to be greater number of visits to the dentist which add up to both the cost and inconvenience related to your treatment.

When should you get a root canal done?

A root canal treatment is required when decay, damage or infection in a tooth has advanced much beyond the outermost enamel layer to the inner pulp chamber of the tooth. A pulp chamber is where the nerves and roots of the tooth reside. When the infection reaches that far, a dentist or endodontist sets everything right by clearing away the infection through a root canal treatment. A dentist having years of experience in providing emergency root canal treatment in London says usually when you experience the following symptoms you may have to undergo a root canal –

• Unbearable pain in the tooth while biting down or chewing
• Sensitivity and discomfort to heat and cold
• The tooth suddenly becomes discoloured or darkened
• Pimples appearing on the gums
• Swelling gums (or tender gums) surrounding the infection site

However it is important to note that in a large number of cases which actually require root canal treatment none of the symptoms mentioned above show up. It makes people think they can easily delay their treatment. They actually put both their oral health and general wellness at higher risk in the process.

Being proactive with oral health is always beneficial

There is hardly anything more beneficial that going to your regular dentist for routine checkups at regular intervals. These checkups include both thorough comprehensive diagnosis and hygiene cleaning. Ideally you should go for a routine dental visit every six months. During these routine visits a dentist looks for signs of any potential infection and decay in the tooth. If any potential sign of a problem is detected your dentist takes prompt action to resolve the problem before any complication can arise.

In other words if you are proactive with your dental health, it saves your sufferings, pain, discomfort, money and time in the long run. Waiting on a root canal treatment only leads to more severe pain and discomfort in one hand while on the other t makes your bill much higher. So, if your dentist recommends a root canal just do not make unnecessary delay and wait till your experience the pain. Rather you should get the treatment done right away and secure permanent relief.

“At home” remedies for temporary relief from pain

When you suffer from considerable pain and sensitivity in the tooth you may try out the following “at home” remedies to get temporary relief. These tips are shared by a busy dentist handling emergency root canal cases in London.

• Apply some ice over the sore or tender area in the mouth
• A hot pack on the side of the affected jaw
• Swish a warm saltwater solution around the mouth several times a day
• Pain relievers that are available over the counter at drugstores (like Advil and Tylenol, etc.) prove helpful in mitigating pain and discomfort  
• Soak a tiny cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and press it gently on the diseased tooth for some time

How safe is the root canal treatment?

Root canal is a tried and tested procedure and dentists all over the world unanimously recognise it as a safe procedure with high rate of success. Nearly 25 million people undergo this procedure a year; the results easily last a lifetime. What makes the treatment so successful? Modern dentistry has advanced a lot equipping dentists with improved technology and safe materials. All these factors play their own role in making the treatment safe, successful and free from pain.

Do root canals lead to cancer?

The myth that root canal can lead to cancer is doing its round over the ages. This is just a myth and you can be rest assured that root canal does not cause cancer. However an infection in the root canal can definitely affect your overall health and wellbeing in its advanced stages warns a dentist who performs emergency root canal treatment in London.

What you can do increase your success rate with the treatment?

The earlier you get the treatment done the higher is your chance of success. When you delay the treatment the infection spreads further and more complications get added. As a result the success rate of your treatment sinks lower. 

Post treatment care

There is supposed to be some discomfort following a root canal treatment. This discomfort results from the fact that now your infected tooth is healing. During the post treatment phase do not chew on anything hard or do not do anything that might exert pressure on the treated tooth till you get the final restoration. It is important to follow the advices of your treatment provider carefully. Medicines like Advil, ibuprofen and Tylenol, etc. which are available over the counter at drugstores prove helpful reducing the discomfort.

The standard cost of emergency root canal treatment in the UK ranges from £250 to £500 a tooth. The cost is usually lower for the front teeth than the teeth at the rear of the mouth. The front teeth have only one root each whereas the molars have three roots. While performing a root canal on a tooth in the front of the mouth a dentist at Emergency Dentist London Pro has less work to do than that of a molar tooth at the back. This is why the price varies on basis location of a tooth in a patient’s mouth.