Apicoectomy
Why would I need Endodontic Surgery?
In the majority of cases, root canal treatment is all that is needed to save teeth with infected pulp to avoid extraction. Occasionally, this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient to promote tooth healing and your endodontist will recommend surgery. Endodontic surgery can be used to remove infection that was not accessible with conventional root canal treatment, locate fractures or hidden canals. The most common surgery used to save a root canal infected tooth is an apicoectomy or root-end resection.
What is an Apicoectomy?
The video on the right illustrates this simple procedure. An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the root tip. A root-end filling is placed to prevent reinfection of the root and the gum is sutured. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months restoring full function.
1. Infected Tissue
2. Tissue Removed
3. Suture Placed
4.Healing CompleteFollowing the procedure, there may be some discomfort or slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. To alleviate any discomfort, an appropriate pain medication will be recommended. If pain management is not satisfactory, please call our office.