[Dental Health] Can sinusitis cause tooth root inflammation?! Dental treatment may be necessary.
Many people have heard of sinusitis, but do you know why it occurs? Did you know that toothache and dental infections can also be related to the sinuses, and even influence each other? Let the doctor explain more about the relationship between teeth and sinusitis!
What is sinusitis?
The sinuses are air-filled cavities located inside the skull, connected to the nasal passages, and serve to filter dust. There are four pairs of sinuses: the frontal sinuses, maxillary sinuses, ethmoid sinuses, and sphenoid sinuses.
Sinusitis is caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal infections of the nasal passages and sinuses, leading to swelling and inflammation of the mucous membranes covering the nasal passages and sinuses, obstructing the flow of mucus in the sinuses, and resulting in sinusitis.
Can inflammation of the tooth root lead to sinusitis?
Besides bacterial and viral infections, sinusitis can also be caused by dental issues, known as "dental sinusitis" (MSEO).
Because the teeth at the back of the upper jaw are close to the base of the sinuses, severe inflammation of the tooth roots can cause the jawbone to shrink, allowing bacteria to infect the nasal mucosa and lead to sinusitis. Common symptoms of "odontogenic sinusitis" include a frequent foul odor from the nose, persistent thick yellow nasal discharge, facial swelling and pain, and postnasal drip.
Is toothache in patients with sinusitis caused by dental problems?
Not necessarily. Some patients think that toothache is caused by dental problems or inflammation, but a dental examination reveals that there are no dental problems. Instead, the pain is caused by infection and inflammation of the sinuses connected to the tooth roots, leading to unexplained toothache.
What causes odontogenic sinusitis?
The cause of "odontogenic sinusitis" is that some patients may not have proper care after dental procedures such as root canal treatment, tooth extraction, dental implants, orthognathic surgery, or sinus augmentation surgery, which may lead to pus in the periodontal tissue at the top of the tooth root or chronic periodontitis. Inflammation or infection of the root canal pulp can then allow bacteria to invade the sinuses.
How to treat odontogenic sinusitis?
Generally, a three-pronged approach is needed, including antibiotic treatment, dental procedures, and endoscopic sinus surgery. In terms of dental treatment, the dentist will first use a CT scan to confirm the location and extent of the tooth infection causing the sinusitis. Before formal treatment, the dentist will diagnose the cause of the tooth infection. The usual treatment involves deep root canal treatment again, including root canal cleaning, irrigation, and restoration, to eliminate bacteria from the tooth root. The final treatment method depends on the severity of the dental problem.
Author: Dr. Chen Haoxian
