Apicoectomy Treatment

An apicoectomy also known as a root-end resection is a dental
procedure that removes inflamed gum tissue at the apex of your tooth.
The apex is the root tip of your tooth. An apicoectomy procedure is
usually done by an endodontist to save your tooth from extraction even
if the tooth has previously received a root canal treatment. The
procedure can be done on children and adults.

If your endodontist tells you that you need an apicoectomy it is
likely that you had a root canal procedure but your tooth has been
re-infected.

Other reasons why you may need an apicoectomy include:

• Removing a root that has a hole

• Repairing a fractured tooth

• Fixing tooth injuries in children

• Fixing bone loss that causes loose teeth

• Removing calcium deposits in the root canal

• Finding and fixing problems that aren’t showing up on an
  X-ray

• Treating a tooth that has extra roots

How an apicoectomy treatment is done

To begin an apicoectomy treatment your endodontist uses an X-ray to
create images of your teeth and jaw as well as the surrounding tissue in
order to get a view of what’s happening around the root area.

Your endodontist will then numb the area and make a small cut, and
then push the gum tissue aside to examine the bone and remove a few
millimeters of the affected root.

After removing the infected root tip, your endodontist will clean the
area and seal it with a filling material to prevent future
infection.

Your endodontist may take another X-ray to recheck things before
closing the cut to allow healing.

You may experience a little discomfort after the procedure. Your
endodontist may prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs to
manage infection and pain.

Do not delay an apicoectomy treatment because this could spread the
infection. Speak with our endodontists to schedule an appointment.