Root Canal Treatment Side Effects and Warnings

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have a root canal, your dentist will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Pain and swelling
• Surgical-wound infection
• Persistent abscess
• Inability to save the tooth

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Immune system disorders
• Bleeding disorders
• Circulatory problems that can cause healing problems (eg, diabetes )

Be sure to discuss these risks with your dentist before the procedure.

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the area around the tooth
• Tooth loosens after root canal treatment
• Headache, muscle aches, dizziness, or general malaise
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given

In case of an emergency, call 911.