Dental infection after root canal

Can a dentist drain an abscess? Why is a tooth extracted after a root canal? What is the recovery time after a root canal? Can I sue my dentist for a botched root canal?

Endodontists are careful of infections when it comes to root canals. Some infections , which could be caused by an abscess, form before the root canal is performe while others experience an infection after the root canal procedure has been completed.

Proper oral hygiene and regular dental checkups are the best defenses against future infections after a root canal and crown. Infection to this cavity is not an unusual case. Root canal treatment is directed to prevent further spread of infection to adjacent tissues and formation of tooth abscesses.

In very basic terms, root canal treatment removes the bad parts of the tooth and dental pulp while leaving the good parts in place. Natural polymers are used to fill in the gaps left by the removal of the diseased areas. The whole tooth is then sealed with a crown to protect it from further damage.

At the end of the canal therapy the dentist closes the canal using a temporary filling and a prosthetic crown. To complete the procedure a few medication are required.

However, extracting teeth can be very traumatic and expensive. During a root canal treatment , we drill into the tooth to access the pulp chamber. After clearing it completely of its infected tissue, we then fill the chamber and root canals with a special filling and then seal off the access.

This chamber is inside the crown (the part of the tooth you can see in your mouth). During root canal treatment , your dentist cleans up the canals making use of special instruments called files. Irritated or infected tissue is removed.

Although it is rare, it is in fact possible to get a mild to serious infection after a root canal procedure. It is important to be aware of and recognize symptoms of infection early on to ensure the infection does not spread or lead to additional. Gum infection after root canal treatment can result in pimple like spots in the gums (at the tip of the tooth root or bone).

This small spots are called as fistula. Fistula formation is a sign of gum infection after root canal and you may need an apicoectomy to relieve the infection. If you have a fever after a root canal treatment, contact your endodontist or dentist immediately. Pain or soreness for a few days after a root canal , especially in the area of the affected tooth and gums, is normal. Occasionally, though, a root canal-treated tooth may become re-infected by decay.

New decay can expose the root canal filling material to bacteria, causing a new infection in the tooth. A loose, cracked or broken crown or filling can expose the tooth to new infection. A tooth sustains a fracture.

Inflamed areas in your gums. Roots of some teeth reach the sinus cavity. In some instances, a root canal treatment can cause inflammation of the surrounding sinus cavities resulting to congestion. Most often this complication subsides after a few weeks. One is the inner seal called the gutta percha.

When you think about a root canal , you likely envision a painful dental treatment that requires a fair bit of recovery. A root canal is normally done when there is a problem, such as inflammation or infection , which can result in tooth decay, a cracked tooth or a continued need to treat the area. If infection is present, antibiotics such as amoxicillin or clindamycin are prescribed as well.

These medications can help relieve the pain prior to the root canal therapy appointment. Oftentimes, dental emergencies involve an infected tooth with throbbing pain that needs root canal treatment. After the root canaled tooth has been extracte you’ll want to allow your jawbone to heal completely.

In most cases, this will take at least three months. Once your dentist has confirmed that there’s no cavitation, you can proceed with dental replacement.