Does a Root Canal Hurt? What to Expect, Step by Step
Most root canals feel like getting a filling. Here is what happens step by step, what recovery is like, and why a crown is often recommended.
A dental emergency is any problem that causes severe pain, heavy bleeding, swelling, or damage that could cost you a tooth if it is not treated quickly. A knocked-out adult tooth, swelling in the face or jaw, and a badly broken tooth all need care as soon as possible. Call your dentist right away, and go to a hospital emergency room if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.
Pick the tooth up by the crown (the white part), not the root. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or water without scrubbing. If you can, place it back in the socket and bite on a clean cloth. If not, keep it in milk and see a dentist as soon as possible. Time matters: the sooner it is replanted, the better the chance of saving it.
Rinse your mouth with warm water, save any pieces, and use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling.
Rinse with warm water and gently floss to remove anything caught between teeth. Do not put aspirin directly on the gum, as it can burn the tissue.
Swelling can be a sign of infection. Use a cold compress and call your dentist. If swelling spreads, you develop a fever, or you have trouble breathing or swallowing, go to the nearest emergency room.
Keep the crown if you have it and avoid chewing on that side. Call to book a visit to have it fixed.
A small chip with no pain, mild sensitivity, or a loose filling without pain can usually wait for a regular appointment in the next few days. If you are not sure, call and ask.
Shore Side Dentistry sees urgent dental problems as quickly as we can at our office on Lakeshore Road East. Learn more about our emergency dental care.
If you have a dental emergency, call us now. Call us at 905-842-2364 or request an appointment online. Our office is at 345 Lakeshore Rd E #401 in downtown Oakville.
Please note: This article is general information to help you understand common dental topics. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for an exam. Every mouth is different, so please book a visit or call 905-842-2364 so one of our dentists can look at your situation and talk through your options.
Same-day help for toothaches, broken teeth and other urgent problems when we can fit you in.
Treatment that removes infection from inside a tooth so you can keep it.
Regular checkups to catch problems early, when they are easier to treat.
Shore Side Dentistry has cared for Oakville families since 1990. Our four dentists, including a certified specialist in periodontics, work together in one office on Lakeshore Road East.
Our office at 345 Lakeshore Rd E #401 in downtown Oakville welcomes patients from across Halton, including Old Oakville, Glen Abbey, River Oaks, Joshua Creek and nearby Mississauga.
Our home neighbourhood in downtown Oakville, steps from Lakeshore Road shops and the waterfront.
A short drive along Lakeshore Road for families in Bronte and west Oakville.
An easy trip along the QEW or Lakeshore Road for patients coming from Burlington.
A straight drive south on Trafalgar Road for families in Milton.
Most root canals feel like getting a filling. Here is what happens step by step, what recovery is like, and why a crown is often recommended.
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