Root canals are common procedures. They aim to repair the inner layer or the “pulp” of your teeth by removing the infected material from within the root and replacing it with a latex-based polymer filler.
The procedure itself is incredibly safe, with a low chance of complications. However, an infected root canal can occur after the procedure, potentially spreading to surrounding teeth and causing further complications.
This guide will explain exactly what a root canal infection looks like, the signs you need to look out for, and whether an infected root canal needs to be extracted.
Root canal, also known as endodontic therapy, becomes necessary when you start struggling with problems like tooth decay, accidental damage, or infection.
But what really causes these issues and the threat of infection is a bacterial infestation that targets the pulp or “nerve center” of your tooth.
Normally, root canals are designed to get rid of this infestation by removing the damaged and infected pulp from within the root.
But sometimes, because of the inexperience of the surgeon or some other complication, root canals can end up incomplete, allowing some bacteria to survive and reinfect the tooth. Resulting in a root canal infection.
If the surgeon performing the root canal is not able to extract all the bacteria infested in the pulp, you’ll likely start seeing signs of infection almost immediately after the root canal procedure.
However, dentists still recommend waiting for 1–2 weeks after the operation before declaring yourself infection-free. If you experience any severe pain during that period, visit your dentist immediately.
11/02/2015
11/02/2015
11/02/2015
As you already know, most root canals are successful in completely removing the infection from your teeth. However, in some special cases, the infection can return.
Any one of these small problems can cause your tooth infection to reappear. And if left alone for too long, this infection can spread to the rest of your teeth through the tooth’s surrounding tissue.
In extreme cases, the infection can spread to your cheeks, gums and face as well. So make sure you seek treatment as soon as you start noticing anything.
This is usually due to:
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The infected root canal doesn’t always need to be extracted. After all, the goal of treatment is to save as much of the natural tooth as possible. Extraction is typically viewed as the last resort.
The first resort is usually a root canal re-treatment. If the infection returns after the first root canal, your dentist may recommend reopening your tooth, cleaning out any infection and sealing it up again.
If the root canal re-treatment on its own isn’t enough to remove all the infected matter, an apicoectomy may be performed. In this procedure, an endodontist removes the tip of the tooth’s root and any infected tissue around it, while preserving the rest of the tooth.
Lastly, if both procedures prove ineffective in stopping the infection from coming back, or if the tooth is too damaged, your dentist may schedule a tooth extraction.
A tooth extraction will prevent the infection from spreading and reaching your jaw bone, where it could do massive damage to your entire jaw.
Now that we’ve covered how dangerous a root canal infection can be, let’s talk about the signs you need to look out for to detect an infection right away. These might help you get the right treatment before tooth extraction becomes the only solution.
Some common signs to look out for include:
If your symptoms match even one of these signs, visit your dentist and inform them of a possible root canal infection.
Root canals are touted to be one of the safest dental procedures, but only when executed by tried and experienced endodontists who have been performing them for at least 3–4 years.
Otherwise, the possibility of ending up with another infection right after the procedure becomes a very real possibility. And if not detected straight away, this new infection can spread to the rest of your teeth and even your jaw bone to cause massive damage to your face and jaw.
Fortunately, the resident endodontist at Smile Lab Manhattan, NY, Dr. Ehsan Farrokh, has more than a decade of experience as a root canal dentist.
He’s operated on some incredibly complicated root canals and left his patients 100% satisfied, most of whom have remained connected with Smile Lab, NYC, ever since.
We’re confident that no matter what stage your infection is in, Dr. Farrokh and his team will be able to find a solution that’s beneficial for all parties involved. Book your first consultation call with Dr. Farrokh and his team. Remember, the first one’s on us!
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