Every day, dentists all over the country find themselves face to face with patients coming in with severe pain and wanting immediate relief. Most of the time, this severe pain can only be treated with a root canal procedure. Root canal infections are rare complications that may arise after one such dental treatment.

The ins and outs of a Root canal infection

As the name indicates, it is the infection in the root canal or the pulp of the teeth. Our teeth comprise multiple layers, of which, the centermost layer is a soft tissue called the pulp. This part of the tooth has blood vessels and nerves.

This is also the part that provides nutrients to the rest of the layers. It’s well-hidden beneath two hard layers of minerals that protect it from decay and bacterial invasion. Unfortunately, if tooth decay is left untreated, it can result in an infected pulp which can only be treated through root canal treatment. Proper oral care after these procedures ensures that complications such as root canal infections don’t arise.

However rare it may be, a post-operative root canal infection might result in restless nights, painful teeth, and doubts about your dentists’ capabilities. You must know that a dentist’s degree shouldn’t be questioned if a root canal infection arises after the treatment. Instead, various other factors cause these infections.

Before looking into the causes, let’s take a look at some common symptoms associated with root canal infections.

Symptoms associated with root canal infections

One of the most common symptoms of a root canal infection is severe pain that might be spontaneous in nature. Most patients characterize it as a shooting pain that radiates to other parts of the face, such as the jaws, ears, and the temple.

A little pain after a root canal procedure is normal, but if it keeps increasing over the course of days or weeks, you should really get it checked.

Some other symptoms associated with pain are:

• Pain that increases on lying down or during sleeping.
• Severe pain upon eating or drinking food that is either too cold or too hot.
• The pain increased with increased pressure on the tooth.

Other symptoms of root canal infections might include:

• A slight discharge of pus from the infected area
• Bad breath or foul taste in the mouth
• Swelling in the gums surrounding the infected tooth
• Tenderness near or surrounding the tooth

All these symptoms point to root canal infections. However, it is also important to get yourself properly checked before reaching a conclusion. A lot of times, many dental infections give rise to similar symptoms. You can keep a careful watch for early signs of root canal infection after the treatment, just in case.

Now that we know the symptoms, we should also answer another important question; what causes root canal infections?

Causes of root canal infections

Root canal infections can sneak up any time after the treatment. It is a tricky infection that needs early diagnosis in order to save the tooth. Some of the major causes of root canal infections are:

• It can be caused by a previously untreated infected area in the pulp chamber of the tooth. Since the anatomy of the tooth is a bit complicated, sometimes a small portion of the infection is left untreated. After a while, it transforms into a secondary infection.
• If the tooth gets another cavity in the same area, root canal infection can occur easily.
• A tooth might have an accessory canal with bacteria hidden away. After RCT, these bacteria come out of their hiding spaces and attack the tooth again.
• Delayed crown placement after the treatment exposes the tooth and makes it vulnerable to another bacterial attack, resulting in a post-operative infection.

Apart from these common causes, root canal infections might also occur due to the mistakes of patients. Many people think that their tooth is saved and “renewed” so there is no need to take extensive oral care. Improper care and bad oral hygiene result in re-infection of the tooth. That is why it is imperative to follow all the post-operative instructions given by your dentist.

How to prevent root canal infections?

It is easier to take care of your teeth instead of bearing the pain that comes with an infection. Many tips help prevent a root canal infection. Follow these instructions, and you will have a healthy recovery.

• Follow proper brushing techniques. Brushing should be done 30 minutes after each meal or at least twice a day.
• Use floss after brushing your teeth, so those food particles stuck in between the teeth can be removed properly.
• Get a dental crown as soon as possible so that the teeth are protected from bacterial attack.
• If your dentist has prescribed you medication after the treatment, follow the regimen properly and take all the medicines.
• Use antiseptic mouthwash daily.
• After the root canal treatment, cut down on unhealthy foods to protect the teeth from further damage.

If you are following these instructions and still experiencing discomfort or pain in the infected tooth, book an appointment as early as possible to get the root canal infections treatment done immediately.

Treatment for root canal infection

The actions carried out to cure a root canal infection are similar to those performed in a root canal treatment. It is basically what dentists call a re-endo treatment. The procedure has the following steps:

1. The dentist will look for the source of the infection through clinical examination and an x-ray.
2. The second step would be to anesthetize the infected area and cover the rest of the teeth to protect it from any damage during the treatment.
3. Next, the dentist will use the dental handpiece to drill out the filling and the infected area. This will also include cleaning out the pulpal area.
4. Then the dentist will clean all the debris, make sure the area is dry and fill up the cavity with gutta-percha.
5. Dentists also use restorative material such as composite or amalgam to completely fill the spaces and create a base where the crown will be placed.

Following these steps, the procedure can be completed within 30 minutes to an hour, depending upon the extent of the spread of infection. This brings us to one of the most frequently asked questions during the treatment.

Can root canal infections spread?

The simple answer to this question is yes, root canal infections can spread to the other areas of the oral cavity. It is important to get an infection treated as soon as possible because if left untreated, most dental infections spread to nearby areas and cause more harm.

An untreated root canal infection can spread to jaws, gums, and even the face. If a bacteria find a way, the infection can also spread to the bloodstream, causing damage to other organs such as the heart, kidney, and brain.

The severity of the spread only depends upon the duration of the infection. The longer the duration, the more severe the spread will be. In this case, just waiting might be the cause of your death. So, stop waiting around for your pain to release. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of a root canal infection, book an appointment with us at Anderson Lake Dental, and let us save your tooth and your life.

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