If you are experiencing the symptoms of a sinus infection (sinusitis) after your root canal treatment in Evanston, you may be wondering what’s going on. Did your root canal cause you to contract a sinus infection? 

The answer is not as straightforward as you may think. So in this blog from Fischl Dental Associates, we’ll discuss the connection between sinus infections, root canals, and infected teeth.

Infected Teeth – Not Root Canals – Can Cause Sinus Infections

First of all, root canals do not cause sinus infections. In fact, they are one of the best ways to prevent sinus infections. This is because a lot of sinus infections are caused by infected teeth, which is what root canals are intended to treat.

How do infected teeth cause sinus infections? Well, it’s simple to understand. The maxillary sinuses are located very close to the upper roots of your teeth, particularly the upper rear teeth. 

If one of your teeth becomes infected, the infection could spread from the root of the tooth to the sinus lining, and into the maxillary sinuses. This, in turn, will cause sinusitis. This is a common enough condition that there’s a medical term for it. It’s called “maxillary sinusitis of endodontic origin.” 

However, in a root canal, the root and pulp of the tooth is removed, eliminating the infectious bacteria. If this is done in time, it should stop a sinus infection from occurring. 

But if the root canal is done too late or it fails, your sinuses may become infected. You should contact a doctor for a follow up if you experience sinusitis and your tooth pain does not go away after root canal therapy. This could indicate that your root canal treatment has failed and needs to be redone.

Root Canals Can Cause “Sinus Communications” With Sinusitis-Like Symptoms

If you are experiencing mild sinus infection-like symptoms after a root canal, the cause may not be an infection. Rather, it may be what’s called a “sinus communication.” This is a very tiny opening in the sinus lining.

A sinus communication can be opened up when cleaning your tooth during a root canal. Sharp tools are used to clean out the roots of your teeth, and these could puncture the sinus lining and cause a sinus communication.

Sinus communications can cause feelings of congestion, post-nasal drip, sinus pressure, and pain, which may be similar to sinusitis. The good news is that most small sinus communications will heal on their own over a period of a few weeks. However, if these symptoms persist for a long time, consult with your dentist for a follow-up.

Need Root Canal Therapy In Evanston? Contact Fischl Dental Associates 

If you’ve got a painful tooth and a sinus infection, this may be caused by a tooth infection. The sooner you get help, the better. Our team is standing by to help you get the treatment you need in Evanston, so contact Fischl Dental Associates online or call us at (847) 864-0822 to schedule an appointment right away.