An oral infection can occur when the soft tissue of a tooth degenerates and dies. The soft tissue or pulp can die as a result of: a deep restoration,multiple restorations, trauma, or other sources. Many times in order to treat the source of the infection endodontic therapy or root canal is necessary.
An infection associated with a tooth may occur in a chronic or acute status. A chronic periapical infection is contained or walled off via the patients’ immune system. Although this may give the patient pain antibiotics are not indicated, unless other symptoms exist.
These symptoms may include but are not limited to a facial swelling or a fever.
A patient may have a chronic situation which can become acute. This acute situation includes a facial swelling or abscess. A variety of antibiotics may be used in conjunction with endodontic therapy to relieve symptoms and attack the source of the problem.
Endodontic treatment(root canal) can be completed by an Endodontist. The Endodontist will use sterile treatment measures to remove as much of the bacteria as possible so the patients body may ideally heal the infected tooth,bone,and soft tissues.
It is these sterile Endodontic procedures which can help the healing process, not the antibiotics. The reason for this is that the source of the infection in Endodontic infections is the tooth and the antibiotics cannot get into the tooth to remove the bacteria.
Dr. Michael Baharestani is an Endodontist, root canal specialist who practices in Great Neck,NY. His practice is solely limited to Endodontics and he uses the most advanced techniques to treat his patients.
