General Information About Tooth Root Infection
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where the nerve and blood vessel bundle (pulp) that nourishes the tooth becomes infected and dies, and the infection spreads out from the tip of the root, causing inflammation and fluid accumulation in the jawbone.
Deep cavities not treated in time, severing of the nerve due to trauma to the tooth, micro-cracks in the tooth, or incomplete/faulty root canal treatments performed in the past are the main causes.
Inability to bite down on the affected tooth, a feeling that the tooth is elongated/raised during chewing, facial swelling, enlarged lymph nodes, and a throbbing pain that increases with hot foods.
Yes. The body's defense mechanism forms a membrane around the bacteria at the root tip to contain them. Over time, this structure can grow and turn into a cyst that dissolves the jawbone.
The patient feels severe pain during the percussion (light tapping on the tooth) test performed by the dentist. The X-ray shows a dark void indicating bone loss at the tip of the root.
Antibiotics may be started for acute pain, but the definitive treatment is the removal of the infected nerves from the tooth (Root Canal Treatment). If the cyst at the root tip is very large, the root tip and the cyst are completely excised with a minor surgical procedure called an apical resection.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
