Gum Boil      

Changing Your View Of Root Canals

A gum boil can be alarming when you become aware of its presence. An abscessed tooth can occur with absolutely no warning and all of a sudden you have a gum boil.

As an endodontist for more than 20 years I've seen many patients who just happen to notice one day that they have a small bump on their gum. They had no idea this was caused by a root canal infection.

This is especially alarming when you have an infection after a root canal has been completed.

So what is a gum boil?

It is basically the visible manifestation in your gum of an underlying infection (most commonly this is a root canal infection). Gum boils are also referred to as a parulis.

The appearance is of a small raised area in the gum tissue adjacent to an infected tooth. This swelling is due to fluid or pus that builds up beneath the bone and gum tissues.

If left untreated the pressure will eventually puncture the gum tissue and a small hole will form which causes the pus to drain. The more technical term for this is a draining sinus tract.

Is a gum boil painful?

Until a gum boil punctures through the gum it may be painful. Once it begins to drain the pain dissipates. The swelling and puncturing of the gum tissue can take place so quickly that there is not a period of pain. It can be confusing to be told that a root canal infection exists when there is no pain at all.

What causes a gum boil?

There are several possibilities:

• Root canal infection. 
• Infection after a root canal. 
• Fractured root. 
• Periodontal pocket. 

What are the treatments for gum boils?

It depends on the cause. The most common cause is a root canal infection. Sometimes a small incision is made in the swelling to allow for drainage. An abscessed tooth is then treated with a root canal treatment. The infection after a root canal will usually resolve after the root canal is completed.

Can’t I just take an antibiotic to get the gum boil to heal?

This is a very common question. An antibiotic will cause the infection to improve and the gum boil may actually disappear. The problem is that the root canal infection remains trapped inside the root.

Therefore, the gum boil will eventually return with an abscessed tooth. The infected contents of the root must be eliminated and the root canal space filled for there to be healing. This is a simple explanation of a root canal treatment.

Of course, nobody likes to hear, “you need a root canal.” I’ve performed thousands of root canals and have yet to have someone celebrate the occasion. In fact most people are anxious and fearful of root canals.

That’s why I wrote The Relaxed Root Canal . In this short book I answer over 80 questions that I’ve been asked over the past 20+ years of performing root canals.

I wrote this book to help people conquer their fear of root canal treatments. My goal is for you to be relaxed during your root canal. When you’re relaxed you’ll also receive the best possible root canal from your dentist. So, if you’re relaxed the chances of success for your root canal are better!!

For more information CLICK HERE.

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Purchase The Relaxed Root Canal right now for only $12

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