A common myth related to getting a root canal is that it may cause a sinus infection. While this assumption is not true, there are connections between this procedure and sinus discomfort, which we will further describe and explain.
First of all, a sinus infection cannot be caused by a root canal intervention. The cause of infection is caused by germs growing uncontrollably somewhere in your body. However, a tooth infection can spread to the sinuses, and there are other possible scenarios connecting the two, as we will see in the article.
What Is Sinus Communication?
During a root canal procedure, an accidental poke in the sinus lining can cause sinus infection symptoms for the patient. When performing a root canal on the upper teeth, the dentist must be very careful when removing the infected tissue. The roots of the upper teeth are very close to some of your sinuses, and it’s easy to accidentally poke the delicate lining during the root canal.
If this happens, the patient will experience symptoms like post-nasal drip (runny nose), sinus pain, pressure and inflammation, and the strange feeling of air going through their tooth socket.
Sinusitis of Dental Origin
Another unfortunate scenario that might link a root canal and a sinus infection is the failure of the root canal procedure. If the dentist who performed it did not remove all the infected tissue inside the tooth, the infection will keep on spreading.
If this occurs in the upper teeth, a sinus infection can be easily caused by the bacteria in the tooth. After getting a root canal treatment, it’s normal to feel a little pain and discomfort. However, if you notice infection symptoms and discomfort that doesn’t go away in two days, go to a checkup as soon as possible, to rule out these complications.
As you can see, root canal procedures can trigger sinusitis symptoms. However, they are not the cause of these infections or signs, and a root canal procedure should not be avoided for that reason. Not getting a root canal can have potentially dangerous consequences, including tooth loss, so go see a good dentist about it and treat it like a dental emergency.
Contact Us for Dental Emergencies
If you have symptoms of a tooth infection, or if you had a root canal recently and didn’t get better after two days, contact us and describe your situation. Dr. Taylor Enochs Engler and the team at Dogwood Family Dental are highly experienced and will be able to determine if you need to be seen immediately or if you can schedule a check-up soon.
We will diagnose you and propose the best course of treatment for your case, discussing everything in detail with you.
Book your appointment now by calling us at (931) 528-6536 or by filling the online form on our website.
