Root canal infections are common causes of a visit to the dental clinic. You will need that root canal treatment to restore your dental health and resume your normal dental functions.

A diagnosis of root canal infections requires prompt treatment. This type of infection affects the inside soft part of your tooth, known as the pulp. 

Prompt infection treatment is advised to prevent further damage and other dental illnesses. The piece provides information on root canal infections, causes, symptoms, and treatment. Let’s read and be informed about your oral health!

What is Root Canal Infection?

Root canal infection is the inflammation of the tissue in the tooth known as pulp. The infection is caused by bacterial infection from tooth decay, cracked teeth, and dental fractures. These factors affect your dental health by influencing tissue death inside your teeth or tooth.

• Your dentist will advise you to treat such infections immediately after diagnosis to avoid severe and widespread infections in your mouth, further exposing your teeth. Prolonged infections complicate treatment and reduce the chances of dental health, resulting in severe or deteriorating dental health.
• In severe cases of infection, pus forms around and inside your tooth, causing pain and swelling. You will know that your case is severe if you have a swollen face, feel fatigued, and have a fever.
• Root canal infections are diagnosed using X-rays that show black spots at the tip of the root that indicates the availability of pus or inflammation of the tooth tissue.
• In severe cases, your dentist or endodontist will drain the pus and treat the gums until they are healed without any symptoms before root canal therapy.

When to Know Your Teeth Requires Root Canal Treatment

• Tooth decay down to the root, causing bad breath.
• Cracked or broken teeth that affect the pulp.
• Discolored tooth or teeth indicating lack of efficient blood flow throughout the tooth.
• Gum disease requiring gum line repair before crown treatment.
• Cavities and severe gingivitis leading to tooth death.
• Teeth erosion due to aging or worn-out teeth, dental issues, and harsh chewing over time.
• Tooth injury.

Symptoms of Root Canal Infections

By now, you know that root canal infections occur because of inflamed tooth tissues and nerves that inflame the pulp tissue, resulting in pus formation and death of the pulp. This phenomenon continues until it presents specific symptoms associated with root canal infection.

• The first sign of a root canal infection is high tooth sensitivity that gradually worsens and becomes severe after taking hot or cold beverages or chewing food.
• Toothache that gets worse over time. The pain can vary in duration and time. For example, you may feel pain suddenly, a pain that comes and goes, or occurs at night. The pain can constantly spread from the root of the tooth to the jaw and face, affecting the neighboring teeth.
• Severe cases include swollen gums, one side of your face swollen, and pus accumulation that may appear as an abscess on your gum.
• The pain and swelling cause fever and fatigue.
• Damaged flow of blood leads to discolored and darkened teeth.

Root Canal Treatment

Root canal therapy involves many steps. Your visit to the dental clinic will require you to provide a history of your oral health. Your dentist or endodontist will then examine your tooth issues based on your history using X-rays that will help diagnose a root canal infection. They will then explain the diagnosis, treatment process, and the best outcome for you.

The steps of root canal therapy or treatment are as follows:

• Anesthesia is administered to alleviate pain and discomfort during the procedure. The prescribed medications help you relax and eliminate anxiety.
• A rubber dam isolates the infected tooth from the surrounding tissue.
• If you have cavities or cracks, your dentist first removes them, then they drill an opening to access the tissue inside your tooth and remove the infected tissue.
• An antiseptic solution is used to clean the root canal, and tools are used to shape it.
• A temporary filling is placed in the canal. When you heal from the root canal infection and can chew normally, root canal filling is conducted to restore your tooth and complete the root canal therapy.
• If you have a severe infection, treatment will continue, and additional cleaning will be done until the root canal heals, after which it will be filled.

There you have it! The definition, causes, symptoms, and treatment of a root canal infection. Now you know what to expect if you have an appointment with your dentist to treat a root canal infection. Remember! The earlier you undergo root canal therapy, the better for your oral health.