Root canal inflammation is a common dental problem that many people experience, and is the result of an untreated or unsuccessfully treated tooth infection. In this article, we will explore the symptoms, causes, and treatments of root canal inflammation to help you better understand and manage this dental condition in the future.
What are the Symptoms of Root Canal Inflammation?
The symptoms of root canal inflammation include: swollen gums, intermittent gum bleeding, and loss of sensitivity.
Swollen gums is a symptom that is often associated with a root canal inflammation. In the initial stage, the gums swell and become sensitive to hot and cold objects. In later stages, gums may become sore and painful to touch.
Intermittent gum bleeding is another symptom that may be caused by an infection in the tooth or as a result of an injury to the gum tissue. The bleeding usually stops after a few minutes, but it can return again at any time.
Loss of sensitivity is a third and common symptom of root canal inflammation, and brings a feeling of numbness to the specific tooth that has an inflamed root canal, as well as surrounding teeth. The symptoms may be caused by a damaged nerve in the tooth or a bacterial infection of the tooth.
Causes of Root Canal Inflammation
The reasons for the inflammation of the nerve can vary. The most common cause is a bacterial infection in one of your teeth, which may in fact be caused by root canal treatment. This might be linked with dentists’ choice regarding the two types of root canal therapies – the traditional and the modern.
The traditional treatment is a time-consuming process, which includes a general anesthetic, trimming or removing parts of your tooth, filling it with gutta-percha (a type of rubber) and sealing it with cement. The modern treatment may use an antibiotic to treat the infection before you get your infection treated. Both treatments can be effective in saving your teeth, but Sentrum Tannlegesenter (website: Sentrum Tannlegesenter Oslo, a dental clinic based in Oslo, Norway, suggests that the modern treatment should be used in order to prevent root canal inflammation – which is sometimes caused by root canal treatment, as mentioned above. This claim is backed up by plenty of research.
Dental Treatment of Root Canal Inflammation
To sum up, root canal inflammation is a common complication following the root canal therapy. This complication is primarily caused by bacterial infections, and can sometimes be prevented by using antibiotics before, during and after the root canal procedure.
Therefore, it is in large part up to the dentist to provide safe treatment for clients – up to a certain point. One can never be entirely sure to avoid inflammations when treating the root canal; but it’s definitely possible to reduce the risk, given the right methods.
For more on the symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention of root canal infections and inflammation, visit Healthline, the California-based health information distributor.