Hi, I just have done Root canal #14 by a DMD this was Saturday and today my upper cheek is swollen, Dr said my molar has 3 roots but during procedure he found a 4th one and all of them were calcified, so took a long time for him to finished, I couldn't sleep last night because of swollen feels hot and it was pulsating is this natural or anything is wrong. I also feel a bump on top my gum.
I will appreciate an answer please. Thank you.

Hi tricia,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.

It is typical to have some swelling and pain after a root canal procedure. However, this does not mean that the tooth is okay. A root canal does not make the tooth healthy again. It is a procedure that is done in an attempt to "retain" an unhealthy tooth. This is not my opinion this is a biological fact and every dentist is fully aware of it. When someone wants to "keep" their tooth that is when a root canal is done. Unfortunately many dentists do not inform the patient that the procedure will not make the tooth healthy again as I have stated above.

In your case you have two additional issues going on.

#1 When the large canals inside of the roots are calcified that means that there is limited to no opening into the canals making the typical root canal procedure impossible. Dentists will often create openings using their rotary instruments inside of the roots but all that does is cause further trauma, bacteria and infection to occur. What commonly happens is the instruments end up perforating a side wall of the tooth causing the tooth to fracture or become decayed at that perforation. Even if you wanted to "keep" this tooth after being informed that it will never be healthy.... a root canal procedure is not advisable due to the calcification of the canals.

#2 The swelling that you have is due to the build up of toxins now living inside of your tooth. The bump forming on the top of your gum is called a fistula. This indicates that the toxins are trying to find a path to release the pressure and they've made their way through the bone and to the gum area. This fistula can become quite large and painful. It may ooze pus. This is "commonly" seen in cases like yours because the tooth is very unhealthy. However, do not mistake these symptoms as "normal" as this tooth is not healthy, the bone is breaking down around the tooth and it is not going to go away as long as the tooth is present. The only way to attempt to "cure" this infection is to remove the source of the infection which is the tooth.

Please think twice before letting any dentist talk you into more procedures on this tooth. There is no procedure or medicine that can make this tooth well again. Even if your symptoms were to temporarily subside from taking antibiotics .... the infection will still be brewing and the tooth will be unwell.

I'm sorry to give you this unfortunate news but I do hope this information was helpful to you.