It Was A Root Canal The Tooth, But The Root Became Infected

Root canal treatment is a treatment method that aims to save the tooth by removing infected or damaged nerve tissue. During this treatment, the inside of the tooth is cleaned, disinfected and the root canals are filled. However, in some cases, the root of the root canal treated tooth may become inflamed. This usually occurs because the root canal treatment was not completely successful, the infection recurs or a new infection develops. This inflammation of the tooth root can cause severe pain and oral health problems. In this article, we will look at the causes, symptoms and treatment options for tooth root inflammation after root canal treatment.

Causes Inflammation Of The Tooth Root

There are several factors that lead to inflammation of the tooth root after root canal treatment. This is usually associated with failed root canal treatment or recurrence of certain infections after treatment. Here are the main factors that can cause inflammation of the tooth root:

1. Incompletely Cleared Infection:
   During root canal treatment, the nerve tissue and infected areas inside the tooth are cleaned. However, in some cases, the root canals may not be completely cleaned. In this case, some infected tissue may remain at the root of the tooth, which can lead to inflammation.
2. Re-infection After Treatment:
   Failure to seal the tooth well after root canal treatment or re-infection of the tooth can lead to inflammation in the tooth root. Bacteria entering the tooth can reach the root canals again and cause inflammation. This risk increases especially in cases where no filling or crown is placed.
3. Hidden Cracks in the Root Canal:
   Microcracks in the tooth root may have gone unnoticed during root canal treatment. These cracks can cause bacteria to infiltrate the tooth root and cause inflammation. Over time, these cracks can widen and cause infection in the tooth root.
4. Failure to Clean Side Channels:
   Tooth roots may sometimes have side canals other than the main canal. These small canals may not be recognized or cleaned during root canal treatment. If the side canals remain infected, it can cause inflammation and this infection can spread to the tooth root over time.
5. Trauma or Teeth Grinding:
   A blow to the tooth after root canal treatment or the habit of grinding (bruxism) can cause damage to the root of the tooth and cause inflammation. Such trauma to the tooth root increases the risk of infection in the root tissue.

Tooth Root Infection Symptoms

When the root of a root canal treated tooth becomes inflamed, it usually manifests itself with several symptoms. These symptoms indicate that the tooth root is infected and needs to be treated. Here are common symptoms of tooth root inflammation:

1. Persistent and Severe Pain:
   A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment should not feel pain. However, when the tooth root becomes inflamed, there is constant pain. This pain can increase, especially during chewing, and can cause a throbbing sensation around the tooth.
2. Gum Swelling:
   When the tooth root becomes inflamed, the infection can spread to the gums. In this case, swelling, redness and tenderness can be observed. In advanced cases, an abscess may form and pus may accumulate in the gums.
3. Smell and bad taste in mouth:
   An infected tooth root can cause a bad taste and odor in the mouth. This indicates that the infection in the tooth has started to spread and if left untreated, the infection can progress further.
4. Abscesses and Inflamed Swellings:
   Inflammation of the tooth root can cause abscesses in the gums over time. These abscesses are characterized by swelling and pain in the gums and sometimes pus discharge may occur.
5. Moving Out:
   If there is severe inflammation of the tooth root, the supporting tissues around the tooth may be damaged. In this case, the tooth may not be stable and may move.

Methods For The Treatment Of Tooth Root Infection

When the root of a root canal treated tooth becomes inflamed, it must be treated. Treatment depends on the cause of the inflammation and the severity of the infection. Here are the main treatment methods that can be applied in this case:

1. Renewal of Root Canal Treatment (Retreatment):
   If the root canals have not been cleaned completely or the infection has reoccurred, the dentist may re-do the root canal treatment. During this procedure, the root canals are reopened, the infected tissues are removed and the root canals are refilled. This procedure ensures that the infection is completely cleared.
2. Apikoektomi (Root End Surgery):
   If inflammation has occurred at the root tip after root canal treatment and this infection does not go away with treatment, apicoectomy can be performed. In this surgical procedure, the infected tissue at the root tip of the tooth is removed and the root tip is closed. Apicoectomy is preferred as a last resort to save the tooth root.
3. Antibiotic Therapy:
   If the inflammation of the tooth root has spread over a large area, the dentist may recommend antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics stop the spread of infection and control inflammation. However, antibiotics do not offer a permanent solution and the infected root must be treated.
4. Tooth Extraction:
   If the infected root cannot be saved and root canal treatment has failed, the tooth may need to be extracted. Tooth extraction stops the spread of infection. After tooth extraction, a dental implant or denture can be used to replace the missing tooth.

Results

Inflammation of the root of a root canal treated tooth is a serious problem for dental health. This can be caused by the re-emergence of the infection or by infected tissues that could not be cleaned during treatment. With early diagnosis and correct treatment methods, inflammation of the tooth root can be stopped and the tooth can be saved. If you are experiencing symptoms of tooth root inflammation after root canal treatment, it is important to contact your dentist and evaluate appropriate treatment options.