Hi Bryanna,

I've read that someone can get Endocarditis from a root canal. We are worried my son's dad has it from a root canal done on a infected tooth that the dentist told him was 'hot' but he drilled into it anyway. Does that sound like it could have released infection into his blood stream and resulted in Endocarditis? We took him to the ER and they did a white blood cell count that was normal as was a chest X-ray, but he continues having intermittent pain in the chest after working out or exertion and he has something going on in one of his eyes, splinter hemorrages in this finger nails and he had a sore appear on his palm. Those are the reasons we went to the ER, and we're just afraid that he's got this from the root canal. Thank you for your thoughts on this.

Hi Pam,

Yes, a person can develop Endocarditis from any chronic oral (periodontal disease) or tooth infection. Usually the person's health is already compromised which makes them a "host" for bacterial infections.

Blood work needs to be more extensive than white blood cells. Other inflammation and bacterial markers need to be checked. He should see his physician.

Bryanna