Endodontic Emergencies and Systemic Antibiotics in Endodontics

Abstract

Endodontic emergencies represent almost 90% of all dental emergencies. The frequency of endodontic emergencies correlates with the age of the patients up to 40 years, due to the increasingly prolonged exposure of teeth to caries and trauma as they get older. The vast majority of endodontic emergencies occur before root canal treatment. The most frequently diagnosed condition is symptomatic apical periodontitis. Pain caused by reversible pulpitis indicates an inflamed pulp that can be treated without the removal of the pulp tissue. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis is a frequent cause of endodontic emergencies. An endodontic emergency due to a cracked tooth occurs when the crack penetrates deeply into the dentine and reaches the pulp, causing pulpitis. Antibiotics are not generally necessary in the treatment of endodontic infections, drainage and root canal treatment being sufficient to control them. Antibiotic prophylaxis aims to prevent possible postoperative infections derived from bacteraemia produced during endodontic treatment.