Apicoectomy

(A procedure where the Endodontist opens up the gum tissue near the tooth to see the underlying bone and remove any inflamed or infected tissue. The end of the root is also removed.)

An Apicoectomy is performed after an unsuccessful root canal has already been performed. There are many spaces within a tooth that may still contain infected tissue, so it can be difficult to ensure that all of the infection is removed during a root canal. During an Apicoectomy, the tip of the root is removed and replaced with a filling.

In most cases, a second root canal is considered before an Apicoectomy since it is a simpler, less invasive procedure. Before the start of an Apicoectomy, you will be given a local anesthetic to thoroughly numb the area. The doctor will start by making an incision in your gum to expose the root of your tooth. Any enflamed tissue will be removed to clean out the area. Only a few millimeters are removed from the root. For this reason, the doctor will use a high powered microscope and small precision instruments to perform the surgery. The precise nature of the surgery gives it a high rate of success. After the root is removed, a filling is placed in the root and the gums are sutured. Depending on the type of sutures, you may have to return in a few days to have them removed, or dissolving sutures may be used instead. Over the course of the next few months, the bone will heal around the root.

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