 |
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
|
|
|
NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Friday, February 10, 2012
|
| Home | HealthTopics | Health Centers | Reference Library | Research |
 Join us on Facebook
|
Share on Facebook | Tweet |
|
Root Canals |
Returning infection07/12/2005 |
What causes a returning infection in the same place on the gum after you have had a root canal? I had a root canal about 8 months ago, and the infection knot keeps coming up and going back down, but this week I have felt pain, like one of my teeth have been infected. Is this normal?
The recurrence of the infection bump is an indication that there is still a source of infection in the area. Normally following a root canal, the bump heals in about 2 weeks and should not return.
There could be a number of possible causes. One is that the root canal has become reinfected. This is usually due to a loss of the temporary filling, fracture of the tooth, or failure to get a permanent filling/crown completed in an expedient manner after the root canal was completed (usually 1 month). When a root canal is exposed to saliva it becomes reinfected in about 3 weeks, and it will need to be redone to resolve the problem.
Next, there could be a canal in the tooth that went untreated or the anatomy of the tooth prevented complete disinfection of the root canal. In this case, the root canal may need to be redone or a special type of surgery may be required to remove the infection and the end of the root where the infection may be residing.
Third, the root of the tooth may be cracked. This could have happened before, during or after the treatment. A fractured root cannot usually be repaired and the tooth or the specific root may have to be removed.
Finally, there may be a gum disease component to the problem. This may have been the cause for the root canal or a result of the infection. There is a local area of bone loss, and bacteria are being trapped under the gums and cannot be removed by brushing. This will need to be treated by a gum specialist.
There are still other possible reasons for your problem, but the ones listed are the most common. You should see your dentist about the continuing problem and have the area re-evaluated. It may require referral to a root canal or gum specialist.
|
John M Nusstein, DDS Associate Professor Section of Endodontics College of Dentistry The Ohio State University |
|
|
|
Please note: only your personal physician or other health professional you consult can best advise you on matters of your health based on your medical history, your family medical history, your medication history, and how information from any of these databases may apply to you. Neither University of Cincinnati (NetWellness) nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this web site shall be liable for any damages arising out of access to or use of this web site, or any errors or omissions in the content thereof. (More) 
|