Kannada actor Swathi Sathish ends up with swollen face after root canal procedure; know what it is and possible reasons why it went wrong – Times of India

Now, the actress has reportedly accused the doctors of ‘medical negligence’ and is considering legal options to make her case.

In the meanwhile, pictures of her swollen face from the botched up procedure have been circulating online. The before and after images of the actor shared by Paparazzi photographer Viral Bhayani has left everyone in shock.

What is root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment is a dental procedure that aims at relieving pain caused by infected or abscessed teeth. Also known as an endodontic treatment, it helps to remove the inflamed pulp, which is soft tissue that lies under the white enamel and a hard layer called the dentin. This also contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue and creates the surrounding hard tissues of the tooth during development, according to the American Association of Endodontists (AAE).

That said, the root canal procedure is conducted to disinfect the surfaces inside the tooth and to save the badly infected tooth rather than getting rid of it.

Is it dangerous? What to expect?

The AAE explains, “Many endodontic procedures are performed to relieve the pain of toothaches caused by pulp inflammation or infection. With modern techniques and anesthetics, most patients report that they are comfortable during the procedure.”

“For the first few days after treatment, your tooth may feel sensitive, especially if there was pain or infection before the procedure. This discomfort can be relieved with over-the-counter or prescription medications. Follow your endodontist’s instructions carefully,” they add.

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Possible reason why it can go terribly wrong

While root canal procedures boast of up to 98% success rate, there are times it can go wrong leading to symptoms such as pain, swollen gums, pus or drainage, tooth discolouration, pimple or boil on the gums and sinus issues. This could occur due to several reasons ranging from persistence of bacteria, inadequate filling of the canal, a procedure that didn’t clean or disinfect the canals efficiently to overextensions of root filling materials.

Are there any alternatives to root canal treatment?

The one and only alternative to a root canal treatment is removal of the tooth. While it’s best to save your natural teeth, you may have to extract a bad tooth to maintain your oral health. If you’re ready to avoid a root canal procedure, you can opt to remove the infected tooth and replace it with a dental implant or a dental bridge or partial. It is best to talk to your dentist about the same.