Tooth root inflammation

Tooth root inflammation is caused by caries (tooth decay), which first penetrates the enamel from the outside inwards and then passes onto the dentin, irritating the nerves in the root cavity as a result. In the early stages, the pain reacts only to sweet, sour, cold or warm stimuli, but later the pain remains permanent.

As a result, inflammation of the root of the tooth develops, sometimes causing the root of the tooth to ulcerate. As the disease progresses, the pain increases. The chin and cheek swell. Sometimes the pain can be noticeable up to the ear and eye area.

The cause of an inflammation of the tooth root can be found in caries. Early treatment of caries can prevent the caries bacteria from attacking the tooth and thus spreading to the root cavity. Otherwise, the nerves there will be irritated by the inflammation, which in the worst case can cause the tooth nerve to die. If the bacteria reach the tip of the root, they can spread to the surrounding jawbone and dissolve it.

Rarely, tooth root inflammation can also be the result of an injury that occurred years ago. An example could be a blow to the jawbone, or a fall that breaks off the tooth structure, exposing the tooth nerve.

Caries alone, which is considered to be the trigger for inflammation of the tooth root, usually does not cause pain at the beginning. Symptoms only appear when the inflammation approaches the root area.

If there is already a bacterial infestation and inflammation (pulpitis) in the root cavity (pulp), there is a strong, throbbing continuous pain. If the pain suddenly subsides, healing is not to be expected, but rather permanent damage to the tooth nerve. As a result, the nerve dies and a chronic inflammation of the tooth root develops, which spreads further and further to the jaw bone and the surrounding soft tissues as time goes on. As a result, there is swelling of the chin and cheek ("fat cheek"). The pain can also be felt in areas of the head.

The diagnosis of inflammation of the roots of the tooth can be easily identified by the nature of the complaints.

For a reliable diagnosis, a cold test can help to check the vitality of the tooth. A living tooth that has inflammation will be sensitive to the cold temperature, while a dead tooth will show no reaction. An x-ray can be used to detect inflammation of the tooth and jawbone, which present shadows the size of a lentil to a pea at the tip of the root.

The therapy aims to preserve the affected tooth, which is achieved by root canal treatment. This can bypass the method of tooth extraction that was often used in the past.

In order to achieve a permanent cure, no bacteria or dead tissue must remain in the root canal. To achieve this, special instruments (files) are used to remove inflamed tissue, dead pulp and bacteria from the root canals. The root canals are then rinsed with disinfecting solutions.

Then the newly created cavities are sealed with a filling material, mainly gutta-percha and sealing cement are used. Gutta-percha resembles rubber and is also made from the thickened sap of tropical trees. Once the root canal filling is complete, the tooth is fitted with an inlay or crown. If the root canal treatment does not work and the tooth root becomes inflamed again, an apicoectomy must be performed if necessary, which is often the last option to save the tooth.

The prognosis depends on the stage of the root infection and how far it has progressed. Often a root canal treatment can preserve the tooth.

To avoid a relapse after treatment, daily dental hygiene is very important to prevent a new spread of caries. The visit to the dentist should be twice a year and at least once a year a professional dental cleaning (PZR) should be performed. The check-up serves to detect possible diseases of the gums and teeth at an early stage. During the PZR, tartar, plaque and discolouration are removed and hard-to-reach areas are cleaned.

To prevent tooth root inflammation, prevention is most important. Consistent brushing with toothpastes containing fluoride can prevent the development of cavities (caries). The interdental spaces should not be forgotten during daily cleaning, which is best done with dental floss or interdental brushes. A professional dental cleaning will prevent harmful plaque from attaching to the teeth.

Another preventive measure is a visit to the dentist, which should be done twice a year. The dentist detects caries and tooth root diseases at an early stage. With the help of therapy, it is then possible to prevent the inflammation from spreading. Even occasional complaints require an immediate examination.