Root Canal Infection: From the Appearance of the First Symptoms to Treating Them

If you experience an unbearable toothache that can be so severe and cause dizziness, an infected root canal might be a problem to check on your next appointment. It intensifies by chewing food, as well as while having hot or warm food and drinks.

We will tell you at the beginning that the root canals at Clock Tower Dentistry are not a big problem for experts like the ones we find there. However, first of all, let’s dive into more information about the problem itself.

Root Canal Infection Symptoms

Are you now wondering how to recognize the types of symptoms that warrant a trip to your dentist? Well, it’s usually quite easy. For example, if you brush your teeth well, but the pain still won’t go away, then there might be a problem.

Of course, these are some signs of root canal infection that indicate a more serious underlying issue. Sure, an ongoing pain that does not stop and gets worse with every bite is not foreign to anyone. However, these kinds of symptoms can be the most alarming ones! In fact, they are usually the main reason people book an appointment in the first place.

Another accompanying symptom is certainly sensitivity to cold and hot, especially foods and drinks. At first, this symptom does not occur often and not in every patient, so it is not so difficult to ignore, especially among children. But it is actually one of the main indicators that there might be something wrong with your root canal.

The third on our scale of alerting symptoms, which indicates the root canal infection is spreading and usually occurs at the beginning, is swelling. We have heard many times that swelling can be a telltale sign of many problems. However, lots of people still ignore it.

Red, warm, swollen tissue can also appear near the tooth and have a bad taste in your mouth or result in bad breath. As soon as you notice anything like that, be sure paying your dentist a visit is more than warranted.

Can It Spread Wider?

The key question is how the infection occurs and how to treat it. First of all, we will remind you to trust a proven expert only and ask all the questions that worry you. It is your right to know. And it is your responsibility to take care of your health.

There are many reasons for problems and infections. One of the many lies in the shape of your root canals. The problem, in this case, is the canals themselves, which are quite complex. Your dentist’s eyes might not see all the infected areas during the first procedure.

Also, your tooth could have narrow or curved canals. If that is the case, the root canals might not be thoroughly disinfected and cleaned after the first venture. And did you know that your tooth can also have accessory canals in which bacteria can easily survive and one day move to the tooth itself?

There’s something else — if for any reason you delay crown placement or permanent restoration, the root canal infection spreading might be on its way. These evil bacteria will attack the unprotected socket without a tooth if you do not prevent them! And the icing on the cake, your tooth may still get a new cavity after the treatment.

The Root Canal Infection Treatment

So your tooth is still burning? Whether the problem appeared soon after the treatment or a little later, refer to any root canal infection symptoms mentioned in this text. From the most annoying to the alarming, no matter what scale you are on, it’s time to think twice about it.

Of course, no one can say for sure that your tooth will survive and that the root canal dentist will give it a second chance. Of course, it is up to you to do everything you can and visit your chosen doctor as soon as possible. Good dental hygiene and a good relationship with your dentist will do wonders to prevent most issues.

But, if even a small part of the cavity remains (or has formed in the meantime), root canal infection pain can drive you crazy. And it can bring you much more serious problems too. Luckily, your dentist will assess the problem of infection, so you will know where you stand.

When the infection targets a specific spot that is not visible during the first procedure or appears after it as such, it does not only affect the root of the tooth — it affects the tooth itself, your mouth, your cheeks, and potentially other parts of your body.

Treatment

Anyway, how do you treat a root canal infection properly? Only a dentist can tell you that. The process, however, usually goes the same way for most people. Namely, once the dentist has noticed and assessed the necrotic tissue, they will order an X-ray of the root canal and potentially your whole jaw.

Now comes the time for the procedure. With anesthesia, it’s time to numb the area around the affected tooth. The doctor will place a barrier around the tooth to protect the gums and mouth. And no, don’t worry — you will not feel any pain under anesthesia!

The next step would be to use a dental drill to clear the way to the infection. Then, the dentist will clean and remove the damaged filler material and give you some medicine. After drying the area, the dentist applies a non-toxic filler (gutta-percha). And finally, you schedule the next check-up and go home without much discomfort, hopefully leaving the problem behind for good.