Will Tooth Abscess Go Away After a Root Canal Treatment?

A tooth abscess can be a painful and uncomfortable condition that requires immediate treatment. Root canal therapy is one of the most popular and safest ways to treat a tooth abscess.

Root canal treatment (RCT) removes the infection and relieves the pressure, effectively healing the abscess. The infection can spread in rare instances, and the abscess might reappear. Redoing the root canal therapy or a surgical procedure called apicoectomy heals the abscess permanently and restores the health of your tooth.

What Is a Tooth Abscess?

A tooth abscess is a bacterial infection at the root of a tooth. It typically begins as a cavity, allowing bacteria to enter the inside of your tooth and infect the pulp (the soft tissue that houses the nerves and blood vessels). The infection can then spread to the surrounding tissue and form a pocket of pus.

An abscess can cause various symptoms, including toothache, sensitivity to hot and cold foods, fever, and swelling of the gums or face. Tooth abscesses can be caused by poor dental hygiene, tooth decay, gum disease, or trauma to the tooth.

The dental infection can spread to other body parts without proper treatment, leading to serious health problems. Treatment for a tooth abscess typically involves draining the pus and eliminating the infection with antibiotics and, in many cases, root canal therapy to remove the infected pulp and save the natural tooth.

Will a Tooth Abscess Go Away After an RCT?

Root canal therapy is a dental procedure performed to treat tooth abscesses. The process involves removing the infected pulp from the inside of the tooth, cleaning and disinfecting the root canals, and sealing the canals with a filling material. The goal of the procedure is to eliminate the infection and save the tooth.

In most cases, a tooth abscess will go away after an RCT. Some factors can affect its success.

If the root canal therapy is successful and the infected material is removed from the tooth, the abscess should begin to heal immediately. The pain and swelling should begin to subside within a few days. The abscess may sometimes drain for a few days after the RCT, but this is normal during healing.

In rare cases, root canal therapy may not successfully eliminate the infection. It can happen if the infection has spread beyond the tooth’s root, the root canal is not adequately cleaned and sealed, or the tooth is not restored correctly after the procedure.

If this occurs, the abscess will not disappear, and you might experience pain, swelling, and other symptoms.

You may require additional treatment if root canal therapy does not successfully eliminate the infection. It could include a second root canal procedure, a surgical procedure to clean out the infection, or an extraction of the tooth in some very rare cases.

Why Is It Important to Get Root Canal Therapy to Treat a Tooth Abscess?

Root canal therapy offers several benefits for patients with tooth abscesses. First and foremost, it can eliminate the infection and prevent it from spreading to other body parts. It can help reduce the risk of serious health problems and improve overall well-being.

Root canal therapy can also help to preserve the natural tooth. It is crucial because losing a tooth can lead to various problems, including difficulty chewing, speech problems, and changes in the appearance of the face. Preserving the natural tooth can help prevent these problems and allow you to enjoy a healthy, functional smile.

Additionally, root canal therapy is a relatively simple and minimally invasive procedure. It can be completed in one or two visits to our dentist, and you can return to your normal activities within a day after the procedure.

Aftercare of Root Canal Therapy

Aftercare following RCT for an abscess is essential to ensure the tooth heals appropriately and to reduce the risk of infection or other complications. Here are some tips that might help:

• Take antibiotics, pain relievers, or other medications as directed by our dentist.
• Avoid chewing on the treated tooth, especially for the first few days after the procedure.
• Maintain good oral hygiene but be gentle around the treated tooth.
• Avoid hard or crunchy foods that could cause further damage or discomfort to the tooth.
• Follow up with our dentist to ensure the tooth is healing properly.
• Consider getting a dental crown to protect and strengthen the tooth after the RCT.

If you experience severe pain, swelling, or other symptoms that do not improve over time, contact our dentist immediately, as this could signify a complication.

Please schedule an appointment at Sharon Dental Group to learn about root canal treatment in Sharon, MA, and how it can save your teeth after an abscess.