Apicoectomy

• Apicoectomy
• How apicoectomy is performed
• What to expect after surgery

If a tooth fails to respond to root canal therapy and root canal retreatment is not a viable option, root canal surgery is necessary to save the tooth. This procedure is apical surgery, or apicoectomy. At Advanced Endodontic Care, our root canal specialists are able to perform apicoectomy efficiently while maintaining maximum patient comfort. This procedure also provides the opportunity to detect possible root fractures.

With apicoectomy, our endodontists make an incision in the gum tissue near the tooth to expose the underlying bone and root of the affected tooth. We gently remove the infected tissue at and around the root and cut off the root tip. Next, we disinfect the area and place a small filling in the root tip to provide a seal. The gum is placed back into position and sutured. After a brief healing period, the gum tissue returns to normal and, after several months, the bone around the root end heals and all symptoms are alleviated.

Following your apicoectomy, you may experience mild discomfort or slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. To alleviate any discomfort, our root canal specialists will recommend the appropriate pain medication. For more information on apicoectomy or any of the other endodontic procedures available at Advanced Endodontic Care, call our endodontic office today.