Emergency Treatment in Endodontics

SUMMARY
Proper diagnosis and management of acute dental pain are possibly the most important aspects of providing dental care. An endodontic emergency is defined as pain and/or swelling caused by various stages of inflammation or infection of the pulpal or periapical tissues. The management of it can be a disruptive for a typical day in the dental practice, but at the same time it is an invaluable solution for the patient. Although insufficient time may prevent ideal treatment from being carried out, the procedures followed should not prejudice any final treatment plan. Hence, methodological diagnosis and prognostic assessment with the patient being informed of the various treatment alternatives are critical parts of an effective management.

The cause of dental pain is typically from caries, deep or defective restorations, or trauma. Occlusion-related pain can also mimic acute dental pain. There are also emergencies that are associated with types of facial pain with a nonodontogenic origin. However, approximately 85% of all dental emergencies arise as a result of pulpal or periapical disease, which would render either extraction or endodontic treatment as management. Thus, the aim of this presentation is to identify and systematize the clinical approaches for the efficient management of an endodontic emergency through an accurate diagnosis and clinical intervention.