I had a root canal treatment started and then got busy and did not follow up. It’s on a canine tooth and all of a sudden it is bothering me like crazy. My face is even swollen. Now I am at my mother’s house, which is out of state, taking care of her after a surgical procedure she had. If I can get to an emergency dentist will they finish/fix this or will I need to wait until I return home? I am a little worried the emergency dentist will just want to pull it and I really prefer to save my teeth if at all possible.
Katherine
Dear Katherine,
Bless your heart! Here you are trying to take care of your mother while you are suffering yourself. You are a great daughter. The good news is that an emergency dentist should be willing to save a tooth if at all possible. Their first priority is getting you out of pain. What happens after that depends on what their schedule looks like in addition to the type and amount of work you need to have done.
In some cases, they will need to drain the tooth. If that is the case, they will also prescribe you an antibiotic and suggest some pain meds. The good news is you will start to feel better very quickly. Then, in a few days, they can get in there and finish the root canal treatment.
You mentioned this was on a canine tooth. This is a visible tooth when you smile. With a root canal treatment, you often need a dental crown as well. If that is the case with you, it will be useful to you if the dentist is also a good cosmetic dentist. They don’t necessarily have to be AACD accredited, though those are the best cosmetic dentists, but you will at least want to look at their smile gallery to make sure the dental crowns they provide blend in with and match the adjacent teeth.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.