Chronic sinus infections can create pressure and pain along with the mouth, and due to the pressure buildup throughout the sinuses, these hollow cavities can also cause tooth pain. While often confused with other causes, sinus infections often develop when bacteria from the nose enter these areas throughout the cheekbones, creating pain along the cheekbones, eyes, and upper teeth. For those suffering from chronic cases of maxillary sinusitis, sinus toothaches are a common occurrence. However, some dentists have begun performing root canal treatments to help relieve this tooth pain and may have ultimately created a potential cure for maxillary sinusitis.
When Are Root Canals Necessary For Sinus Treatment?
Most often, people with maxillary sinusitis will be prescribed antibiotics or antihistamines to remove the infection from the sinuses. However, the close relationship between the sinuses and posterior tooth pain is often under-looked, as many dentists will often attempt to diagnose other conditions, such as tooth decay or gum disease, as the potential cause. Even though this correlation is less observed, for many dentists, it’s important to observe the root cause of their patient’s tooth pain to be able to provide them with the treatment they need, and to do so requires ruling out all potential causes.
Those suffering from chronic sinusitis will need an additional diagnosis that determines whether or not the sinusitis is caused by tooth pain or if the tooth pain is caused by sinusitis. The sinuses have four major groups, and out of the total groups present, the maxillary sinuses often cause dental pain. To treat it, dentists will often recommend their patients to see an ENT for antibiotic treatment. But when the cause of their sinusitis is from an undetected pulp infection, then the dental problem needs to be treated first.
That’s where root canals come in. When the sinus infection occurs from an endodontic origin, dentists can resolve the source of the infection through root canal treatments. Even when tooth pain isn’t present, sometimes a tooth infection may still be the root cause of the issue and can cause patients to suffer years with chronic sinusitis. Highly skilled endodontists and general dentists can tackle this issue by removing the infection at its source.
When To Receive Treatment From Your Dentist
For chronic sufferers of sinus infections, having a root canal treatment can be an excellent source of relief. Root canals work to completely remove any signs of infection from the endometrium area, including the pulp, root channels, and areas of the upper jawbone, to help stop your toothache and remove any symptoms of chronic sinusitis. If you believe you may have a sinus toothache, some symptoms you may experience include:
- Pain along the upper molars: Often, chronic sinusitis can result in pain along with the upper molar areas, but if a tooth infection is present, then the pain will first step from the molars and then radiate to the sinuses.
- Pressure throughout several teeth: Pressure will also be felt, either with the sinuses causing the pressure buildup or the bacteria infection from the affected tooth.
- Tenderness throughout the nose, eyes, and forehead: Most often, tooth infections that cause sinusitis will also cause the eyes, nose, and forehead to become tender and swollen to the touch.
- Ear pain and fullness: As an extension of this pressure, the ear canals will also experience pain and fullness.
- Bad-tasting nasal drip: Bacteria infections from the teeth can also cause the sinuses to create excessive amounts of nasal drip.
- Cold Symptoms: With the onset of a toothache and sinusitis, a person will also experience low energy levels throughout the day and symptoms similar to a cold, such as regular fevers.
When this happens, see both your ENT and your dentist, as they will be able to determine what’s potentially causing your toothaches or sinusitis and effectively treat them. Conventional sinus therapy is often able to treat chronic sinusitis when the bacteria originate from the sinuses, but in cases where it’s caused by a toothache, then your general dentist or endodontist will be able to effectively handle your toothache and potentially cure your sinusitis as a result.