If you have recently gotten a root canal done and experiencing runny nose and nasal pressure, you probably be asking yourself can root canal cause sinus infection?’. Well, it’s good that you noticed. This may indicate that your treatment was unsuccessful.
That said, mild sinus and its symptoms are common after a root canal and there should be nothing to worry about. Prolonged sinus with major symptoms may indicate something else.
After thorough research from credible sources, we penned down this guide to resolve all your queries, including what to expect after a root canal and if the two are linked.
Can Root Canal cause Sinus Infection?
Fortunately, root canal and sinus infection are not interlinked. However, those who experience mild symptoms of sinusitis after a root canal could probably be having ‘sinus communication’.
Well, it might be a new terminology for you, but there is nothing to be concerned about. The root of your tooth in the upper jawline is very close to your sinus lining. Thereby there are higher chances of it getting damaged.
If you experience mild sinus symptoms after a root canal, your dentist might have damaged that sinus lining during the treatment. Its symptoms are very much close to a sinus infection. Thereby most people think that a root canal causes a sinus infection.
Symptoms of Sinus Infection
- Congestion
- Sinus pressure
- Pain
- Runny nose
- post -nasal drip
These are common symptoms of the sinus that usually occur after a root canal. That said, some symptoms of sinus communication are rare and appear in a few patients. They are:
- The feeling of fluid going into your nose while sipping water.
- The feeling of air going across your tooth’s socket when you breathe.
Luckily, sinus communication doesn’t take long to heal and get better on its own. However, if its symptoms become extreme or persist for more than 1 or 2 weeks, then you must consult a dentist as it could be a sinus infection and require personalized care.
What Causes Sinus Infection?
Sinus infection is a chronic condition that a possibly infected tooth can cause. To be precise, the upper rear teeth in your gum line are likely to house a few bacteria near the root of the tooth.
Since your upper jawline is close to your sinus cavity, when the upper teeth get infected, the bacteria at the roots might not stay in place and spread to the sinus lining close to the tooth. This gradually leads to a sinus infection and gets severe over time.
Therefore, getting your teeth checked for any bacterial infection is important, especially the upper teeth, as they are pretty much close to the sinus lining. If any infection near those teeth is left un-untreated, it reaches the sinus lining and causes chronic sinus infection.
Even if the infected tooth gets removed, your sinus may still be there and might need proper care and treatment to eliminate the source of the infection.
Read: Can Gum Disease Kill You?
Difference between Sinusitis and Sinus Communication
Sinusitis and sinus communication are two entirely different conditions. Though people often mix them up due to a lack of knowledge about them.
Let's begin with sinusitis, it is a prevailing condition in which the sinuses lining gets inflamed due to a viral infection. However, the good thing about it is that it heals on its own. So yes, you don’t have to visit a dentist to get it treated. In just two or three weeks, it gets better.
The sinus lining is located behind your cheekbones, above your eyes, and close to your forehead. The infection happens when the infection spreads and causes inflammation in the sinus cavities (hollow spaces in the skull bones).
On the contrary, sinus communication is a small space in your sinus lining which may get damaged during dental procedures as it is located close to your upper teeth. Thereby patients who get a root canal done in their upper teeth often complain of experiencing sinus symptoms. While it also gets healed on its own, you might need to consult your dentist if the symptoms persist after 2 to 3 weeks.
Conclusion
Directly, there is no link between sinus infection and root canal. However, if the root canal is not done properly, it may affect your sinus lining close to your upper teeth.
Minor symptoms of sinus communication may heal in a few days. However, if the symptoms persist, accompanied by severe pain, it’s better to consult a qualified dentist in your state to get the problem resolved.
Lastly, wherever going for a root canal, always ensure you consult a dental professional with profound experience in the field. Getting treatment from an illegitimate person can result in conditions like sinus communication.