does infection go away on it's own after a root canal?

[omgseriouslywtf]

I just had a root canal done on Wednesday, on a tooth that was just beginning to abscess. I can feel the infection when I press against my gums near that tooth but there is no bump or anything. I'm just wondering if this infection goes away on it's own, or if I should have been prescribed antibiotics?

[scaredinthechi]

I believe that when they do a root canal it is to remove the infected root, so surely the part that was infected has now gone?

[omgseriouslywtf]

well, when i went in to get the root canal done, i could feel the infection if i pressed along my gum/jaw line with my finger. it was tender and sore. the day after the root canal this tender section seemed to grow further back than the root canaled tooth, but today it seems to be shrinking in size again. so i guess that the root canal took away the source of the infection, therefore the infection is going away on its own without antibiotics. at least that's what i think is happening!

[Zzzdentist]

Usually it does, but sometimes persistent infections can linger on usually because of a long standing chronic infection, a root canal that hasn't totally filled in every nook and cranny of the root's portals of exit, or other reasons like a cracked root, etc.

It can take some time for an infected region to be cleared up by your immune system so my general rule of thumb is if it's not getting worse that should be a good thing. If it's slowly subsiding away then keep an eye on how it goes.

[Dentist hater]

This is exactly what i am experiencing, i had a root canal and two monthes later my gum is still tender and swollen