Generally, routine root canal treatment is all that is needed to save teeth with a diseased pulp from extraction. Occasionally, this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient to heal the tooth and your endodontist may recommend surgery. Endodontic surgery is a simple procedure performed by an endodontist to eliminate infection surrounding the root of the tooth. Endodontic surgery is also called an apicoectomy or root-end resection.
What is an Apicoectomy?
An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding infected tissue. The infected tissue is removed and the root-end is trimmed slightly to remove the damaged areas. A preparation is made into the root tip followed by the placement of a root-end filling to seal the root and prevent reinfection into the surrounding bone. The gum tissue is sutured and the area is allowed to heal. The bone naturally heals around the root restoring full function.
Following 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 and antibiotic will be recommended.
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