These are troubling times for patients and for dentists also. Lack of jobs, patients without insurance, patients holding their jaws in the front office in pain, more lockdowns. It all seems never ending.
However many people wince at the sound of the word 'root canal'.
However recently we have seen a fairly large amount of patients presenting in need of root canal treatments.
One question patients many have is "does having an infected root canal and resultant pain warrant emergency treatment during COVID 19 or should you try and wait it out."
WELL THE SHORT ANSWER THAT IS NO. - YOU SHOULD NOT WAIT - YOU YOU SHOULD SEEK THE HELP OF A DENTIST IMMEDIATELY.
The main reason behind this is root canals do not just 'go-away'.
Root canal do meet several of the criteria for an essential service - even during a pandemic like COVID 19.
1) Root canal treatments can be used to treat an active infection
2) The root canal treatment can relieve significant pain which is a common symtom of the infection. Root canal treatment is neccessary due to infection or an injury that may have affected the dental nerve or interior of a tooth.
3) Root Canal treatments relieve swelling or cellulities of the tooth. They are the warning signs of an impening abcess. This is when it can reach a dangerous level wherby infection has formed at the tip of the tooth - at this point it can filter into the bloodstream - in extreme cases there is danger of sepsis.
Another piece of advice that I give patients is not to go to the 'emeregncy room' if you have toothache or an abcess. Best to wait it out until the morning.Going to the meergency room for a dental pain at this tim is not a good idea due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If you have toothache it is best to see the dentist as soon as possible. Delay can be dangerous and can be more costly in the long run.
Aleksandr Dayanayev, DDS is a cosmetic and generaldentist in Astoria. The practice has 3 emergency dentists in Astoria treating patients 6 days a week. They offer teeth cleanings, dental crowns, root canal treatments, dental implants, dental bridges, periodontics, INVISALIGN, porcelain veneers and all forms of cosmetic and general dentistry. Aleksandr Dayanyev, DDS has been practicing for over 20 years.
