Root Canal Abscess

Changing Your View Of Root Canals

A root canal abscess can be quite alarming when it happens to you with no prior warning. People are usually shocked at how quickly this problem can arise.

In my 20+ years as an endodontist (root canal specialist) I've seen many patients with a tooth infection. Here are some of the questions they've asked me:

1. What is a root canal abscess? This is the condition that occurs when the dental pulp becomes infected.

The pulp is the soft tissue found inside a tooth. It is composed of nerve tissue, specialized cells, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels.

This is the tissue that builds your tooth for you when you are a child. As an adult the dental pulp has no function essential to your tooth's health.

2. What causes a root canal abscess? There are several possibilities:

• Dental decay. Bacteria from the decay enter the pulp and cause inflammation. This inflammation leads to necrosis or death of the pulp tissue. This infected pulp leads to what we call a root canal abscess. Eventually the infection spreads from the root to the surrounding bone and soft tissue.
• Dental procedures. Every time you have a dental procedure such as a filling or crown the dental pulp becomes inflamed. Most of the time this inflammation resolves in a couple of days. However, sometimes the inflammation is so extensive the pulp becomes infected.
• Trauma. It is possible to have a tooth get hit hard enough that the pulp tissue is severely damaged. It may take years for this to develop or it may occur quickly. Sometimes a front tooth may become discolored when this occurs.

3. How do I know if I have a root canal abscess?

  Pain. Mild, moderate, or severe pain may indicate that you have an abscess that needs attention. This pain may come on you quickly or slowly over a long period of time.

  Swelling. You might have a small root canal swelling in the gum tissue adjacent to the tooth. Or you could have a larger and more significant root canal swelling of your jaw. It is possible that an upper tooth may cause swelling under the eye.

  Fistula. This is a small opening in the gum through which infection drains. It is possible to develop a fistula after a root canal. A fistula can indicate a root canal abscess.

It is possible for this abscess to occur after a root canal treatment. In this case a root canal retreatment or apicoectomy will be required.

  Dental visit. You might not have any pain or swelling and yet still have a root canal abscess. This problem can develop silently and only be detected by a dental x-ray.

4. How is a root canal abscess treated?

• Root canal treatment
• Root canal retreatment
• Apicoectomy
• Extraction

5. Will I need antibiotics? Sometimes. Not all infected teeth require antibiotics. Root canal treatment without antibiotics can lead to healing in many cases.

Well, if you have a root canal abscess you're probably looking at having a root canal to save your tooth.

I've treated thousands of patients and not a single one has been excited about their root canal.

In fact most people are pretty nervous about it. That's why I wrote  The Relaxed Root Canal.

In this book I answer over 80 questions that I've been asked about root canals. I also give some practical tips on how to have a relaxing root canal appointment. For more information please CLICK HERE.

You simply must get a YES answer to this question. I write about this in Chapter 5.

I'll give you my recommendation on what to do if you get a NO answer. For more information please CLICK HERE.

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