Tooth root inflammation, or root infection for short, is a painful affair. Anyone who has ever had a root infection and had to have it treated by a dentist knows this.
What is dental root inflammation?
Tooth root inflammation is, strictly speaking, an inflammation of the tip of the tooth root. Bacteria enter the root tip via a decayed tooth and trigger root inflammation. The inflammation usually begins with progressive decay, which spreads to the dentin and from there invades the root of the tooth.
Causes
Toothache is usually caused by decayed teeth or tooth root inflammation. If left untreated and without painkillers, nights are especially distressing for those affected. The main cause of tooth root inflammation is caries on a tooth. Each tooth has a hard layer surrounding it and the soft pulp. The process begins insidiously with a small spot of decay and, if left untreated, destroys larger and larger portions of the tooth. Periodontitis can also promote tooth root inflammation. If caries remains untreated for a long time, it spreads to the tooth bone and from there to the root of the tooth. This leads to painful root inflammation. But damage to the jaw or a traumatic blow to a tooth can also lead to root inflammation long afterwards. Wisdom teeth that have grown in crookedly can irritate the root environment of other teeth. Sometimes infections can promote root inflammation.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
In most cases, acute root inflammation is noticeable by a sudden, pulsating toothache that may be aggravated by hot or cold drinks or foods. Often, cold air on the affected tooth is also not tolerated. In most cases, biting down also causes great pain on the inflamed tooth. Sometimes it is a temporary irritation and the pain will stop on its own, but usually tooth root inflammation causes the nerve to die and causes a chronic focus of inflammation. The pain may subside even if the inflammation is untreated when the nerve has died, but it is a treacherous absence of discomfort. The death of the pulp allows bacteria to enter the root tip through the pulp and spread from there into the jawbone. The root inflammation then no longer causes pain, but a number of secondary diseases such as the formation of an abscess, a radicular cyst or inflammation of the bone marrow. In most cases, a radicular cyst develops first, encapsulating at the root tip but growing larger and progressively extending into the bone tissue.It can be seen on X-ray. Problematically, this process can proceed without pain, but absolutely requires treatment to prevent the root infection from spreading into the jaw.
Diagnosis and course
Tooth root inflammation is usually associated with severe tooth pain. If root inflammation persists, the tooth becomes sensitive to pressure pain and cannot tolerate being touched. A strong throbbing inside the tooth can also be felt. As the root inflammation progresses, a strong permanent pain develops. At the latest then a visit to the dentist is inevitable. Sometimes the pain disappears, but this is not necessarily a good sign. The root inflammation may have caused the tooth to die. If the root infection continues to go untreated, it may spread to the jaw and soft tissues in the long term. The inflamed area swells and “fat cheek” occurs. Root inflammation can also continue and spread to the head, causing headaches. When root inflammation occurs, it is important to treat it as soon as possible, otherwise there is a risk that it will spread to other teeth. If the root infection is left untreated, it can cause serious damage to the organism from permanent weakening of the immune system, to inflammation of the heart muscle. The dentist can diagnose root inflammation only through an X-ray.
Complications
Untreated dental root inflammation can lead to various complications and significantly affect the long-term health of the affected patient.However, it can also happen that the pain suddenly subsides or stops completely, so that dental treatment is often no longer sought. However, if the pain subsides, the all-clear cannot be given because in these cases the tooth nerve has already died. The focus of inflammation and pus remains and even expands. Root tip inflammation occurs, which also reaches the adjacent jaw bone. The affected tooth must be removed in order to stop the inflammatory processes. If no treatment or inadequate treatment is given, the entire dental apparatus may eventually be destroyed. However, the initial root inflammation is often not limited to the dental apparatus. Due to a strong multiplication of the pathogens, serious complications such as sepsis may also occur under certain circumstances. In potentially fatal sepsis (blood poisoning), massive amounts of bacteria are washed into the blood. These originate from untreated foci of pus. Inadequately treated dental root inflammation often also leads to chronic inflammation in the tooth and jaw area. As a result, heart disease, rheumatoid joint inflammation, nerve or kidney inflammation can develop, reducing the quality of life and often even the life expectancy of those affected.
When should you see a doctor?
If the affected person experiences impairments and disturbances during the intake of food, he should see a doctor. If there is pain around the teeth, swelling in the mouth or irregularities in the throat, a medical examination is needed. For many, there is a sharp increase in symptoms within a short period of time. In particular, pain becomes very intense within a few hours. For this reason, a visit to the doctor is already advisable at the first perceptions or irregularities. If hypersensitivity occurs when pressure is applied to the area of the jaw, as well as disturbances in sensitivity to heat or cold, the observations should be discussed with a doctor. Swelling or deformities in the area of the face also indicate a health impairment. If there is a purulent taste in the mouth, consult a physician immediately. If the disease progresses unfavorably, it can lead to blood poisoning and a potentially life-threatening condition. Redness in the mouth as well as irregularities in speech are further indications of a health disorder. A doctor should be consulted so that a diagnosis can be made immediately and treatment initiated. If sudden changes occur while wearing braces or dentures, consultation with the treating physician is also necessary.
Treatment and therapy
Schematic diagram for treatment in case of dental root inflammation or caries. Click to enlarge. Once the tooth root inflammation is diagnosed and precisely localized, the root canal treatment is carried out in several sub-steps. First, the tooth with the root infection is opened and the tissue affected by the root infection is removed. Then the root canals are thoroughly cleaned to remove all bacteria. In most cases, the dentist will insert an antibiotic or antibacterial medication into the tooth and seal it temporarily for the time being. Sometimes a root infection requires a second cleaning. It is advisable to observe the tooth with the root infection before it is permanently filled with a root filling and sealed. If the root infection has subsided and no further complaints have occurred, the tooth is closed with a root filling (usually with gutta-percha). Sometimes pain can still occur a few days after the treatment, which can be temporarily relieved with painkillers.
Prevention
Because dental root infection is a secondary disease, prevention of root infection begins with preventing tooth decay. The most important preventive measure is to have your teeth checked regularly by your dentist. He detects caries at an early stage and can prevent its progression. Root inflammation can also usually be detected at an early stage. Since caries is caused by bacteria, regular tooth cleaning is essential. Teeth should be brushed at least twice a day. The dentist can provide information about a suitable technique.The use of dental floss is recommended for cleaning the interdental spaces, because food residues collect in narrow spaces, which promote decay bacteria. The toothbrush should be changed at least every two to three months.
Aftercare
As a rule, no special options for aftercare are necessary or possible in the case of dental root inflammation. First and foremost, the disease itself must be detected and treated by a doctor at an early stage to prevent complications or other discomfort and problems with the teeth down the road. In some cases, the root itself does not need to be removed if the dental root infection is detected early, so ideally, the affected person should see a doctor at the first symptoms and signs of this disease. Sufferers usually depend on the removal of the root if the tooth root inflammation is already advanced. In this case, the tooth should not be loaded after the procedure. Already after a few days after the procedure, food can be taken normally again. Further controls are necessary in some cases to prevent the inflammation from spreading further. As a rule, dental root inflammation does not reduce the life expectancy of the affected person and does not lead to other complications in the process.
What you can do yourself
The inflammation of a tooth root needs medical attention. The possibilities of self-help can support the healing process, but are not sufficient for recovery. To improve the general health, the consumption of harmful substances should be refrained from. Caffeine or nicotine have a negative influence on the immune system. However, with a balanced, vitamin-rich and healthy diet, defenses can be stabilized and mobilized. Sufficient sleep, the reduction of physical and emotional stressors, and adequate exercise are also conducive to recovery. To avoid an increase in symptoms, food intake should be optimized. Acidic foods or hot drinks can intensify sensitivity in the mouth and throat. Under no circumstances should dental cleaning be discontinued despite the presence of discomfort. Until recovery, teeth should continue to be cleared of food debris as best as possible on a daily basis. External cooling of the affected areas can provide relief from the discomfort. Therefore, cooling pads wrapped in a cloth can be placed on the cheek or jaw at regular intervals. Speaking should be kept to a minimum. Jaw activity should not be excessive during inflammation. If pus gets into the throat, special care should be taken. As soon as a deterioration of health is perceived, a doctor must be consulted.