If your endodontist or dentist has indicated a need for root canal treatment, it means that a tooth is infected. The tooth remains infected until a root canal treatment is completed or the tooth is extracted.
If it is not treated promptly, the infection can spread and form an abscess. An abscess is an accumulation of pus (thick, yellowish fluid) that is formed naturally by the body to contain an infection and to prevent it from spreading. It appears as a pink/red swollen area and they are generally painful due to the pressure of the pus building up.
While the pain may subside with the help of medication, however, the infection will not go away unless treated. We encourage the patient to seek treatment promptly lest the infection continues spreading and cause damage to surrounding teeth and bone (ie. formation of a dental cyst, a blood clot to form in a large vein, sinus infection etc).
A root canal treatment is generally done under local anaesthesia so that there is minimal discomfort. For patients who are nervous, intravenous sedation is another option to have treatment completed in a comfortable manner. You are recommended to discuss your concerns with your endodontist/dentist so that they can advise the most suitable anaesthetic option for you.
