What Are the Signs of Infection After A Root Canal?

At Bay City Dental Center, Dr. Matthew Ward recommends root canal therapy to patients with a cavity that has a dying root. This usually causes pain or tooth sensitivity. During a dental exam with X-rays at our Bay City, MI dental office, he examines a patient’s teeth and gums thoroughly to detect any oral health issues that need to be resolved, including a root canal.

A root canal is necessary when there is a tooth with decay that has reached the pulp of the tooth. He can immediately decide at this appointment whether root canal therapy is best for your oral health. After you have a root canal, he will explain root canal recovery instructions, including signs of infection.

When do you need a root canal?

When you want Dr. Ward to save your tooth with a root canal, you should schedule an appointment when you notice any of the following things:

You have severe tooth pain, especially when you chew or bite
You notice a small, pimple-like bump on your gumline
Your gums are red, swollen, or tender around a particular tooth
You are experiencing tooth sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages

At Bay City Dental Center, a Midland Michigan dentist, such as Dr. Ward, can explain root canal causes and determine whether a root canal is medically necessary.

How is a root canal performed?

When tooth decay gets deep into the pulp of a tooth, you will need a root canal. During root canal therapy, we apply local anesthesia to numbs the tooth being treated. Next, our root canal specialist, Dr. Ward, drills through the crown of your tooth until he reaches the pulp. He cleans the area and then removes the pulp. After the tooth is clean, he uses gutta-percha to close the top of the crown. A temporary filling is placed there until a crown is custom-made to fully restore your tooth.

Signs of infected root canal tooth

Some common signs of a root canal infection include:

A recurring pimple on the gums: This abscess may release pus or fluid.
Lethargy: Feeling run down is normal after a root canal. However, if your energy doesn’t bounce back after a few days, contact Dr. Ward immediately as it can be a sign of an infection.
Fever: Any temperature over 99.5 degrees may signal that you have a root canal infection.
Severe pain: When you have pain that persists for a few days after a root canal, you should return to our dental office.
The area around the tooth feels hot: An infected area often feels hot.

What causes a root canal to get infected?

There are several reasons why a tooth may become infected after a root canal. The shape of your root canals can be complicated, making it hard to clean and disinfect fully. Your tooth may also have extra canals that may have bacteria that are reinfecting your tooth. If there was a delay in placing your crown, this also allows harmful bacteria to get back into the tooth. During an exam, Dr. Ward can determine the cause of your root canal infection and offer root canal infection treatment.

Learn when to revisit our office for root canal infection treatment

Tooth decay spreads fast when left untreated and can lead to serious symptoms. At Bay City Dental Center, Dr. Matthew Ward specializes in diagnosing tooth decay throughout Bay City, Saginaw, and Midland, MI. During a dental exam, he can determine whether you need root canal therapy. After a root canal, he will discuss signs of a root canal infection that requires you to revisit our Bay City, MI dental office. When you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to schedule an appointment quickly with our root canal specialist.