An apicoectomy is a surgical procedure involving removing the tip of the root and some surrounding bone and tissue. The process often follows an unsuccessful root canal treatment, in which case it’s also known as endodontic retreatment. Apicoectomy can help to relieve chronic inflammation, infection, or pain caused by persistent disease at the root tip. When teeth become damaged or decayed below the gum line, an apicoectomy may be recommended to restore them to total health and function.
Everything you need to know about Apicoectomy
What is Apicoectomy?
An apicoectomy is a dental procedure that involves removing part of the tooth’s root (the apex) along with some surrounding bone and tissue to treat an infection or abscess. An apicoectomy is also known as endodontic surgery and root-end resection. This procedure may be recommended when other treatments, such as a root canal, have not successfully cured the infection. Apicoectomy can help to relieve chronic inflammation, disease, or pain caused by persistent infection at the root tip of the affected tooth.
What Conditions Does Apicoectomy Treat?
Apicoectomies are most commonly used to treat infections that persist after a root canal has been performed. Apicoectomies can also be used to treat fractures in teeth roots, traumatic injuries that involve a fracture of teeth roots, and periodontal diseases that cause cysts or tumours around the apex of a tooth root.
What Happens During Apicoectomy Surgery?
Apicoectomy surgery is typically performed under local anaesthesia, which numbs the area around the tooth that will be operated on. Your dentist/oral surgeon will make an incision in the gums near affected tooth to expose the bone and tissue around the apex of the tooth root. The infected tissue and any damaged bone will then be removed. The healthy part of the tooth root will be sealed with filling material, and the incision in the gums will be sutured closed. Sometimes, a metal post (stainless steel or titanium) may be placed into the root canal to support a future dental crown.
After Apicoectomy Surgery
After Apicoectomy surgery, your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend that you take pain medication to help manage any discomfort. You should also take antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs as prescribed by your doctor. You will likely need extra care when brushing and flossing around the affected tooth for several weeks following Apicoectomy surgery. Your dentist may also suggest follow-up visits every few months for a few years to monitor the healing of the treated area.
Apicoectomies can help to relieve chronic inflammation, infection, or pain caused by persistent disease at the root tip of the affected tooth. Apicoectomies are an effective way to treat conditions of the root tip that have not responded to other treatments, such as root canals. Apicoectomies involve removing part of the root along with some surrounding bone and tissue and sealing the healthy portion of the root with a filling material. After Apicoectomy surgery, you may need to take antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications and take extra care when brushing and flossing around the area for several weeks. Follow-up visits every few months for a few years may also be necessary to monitor the healing process.
FAQs
- What is Apicoectomy?
A: An apicoectomy is a dental procedure that involves removing part of the tooth’s root (the apex) along with some surrounding bone and tissue to treat an infection or abscess. An apicoectomy is also known as endodontic surgery and root-end resection.
- What conditions does Apicoectomy treat?
A: Apicoectomies are most commonly used to treat infections that persist after a root canal has been performed. Apicoectomies can also be used to treat fractures in teeth roots, traumatic injuries that involve a fracture of teeth roots, and periodontal diseases that cause cysts or tumours around the apex of a tooth root.
- What happens during Apicoectomy surgery?
A: Apicoectomy surgery is typically performed under local anaesthesia, which numbs the area around the tooth that will be operated on. Your dentist/oral surgeon will make an incision in the gums near affected tooth to expose the bone and tissue around the apex of the tooth root. The infected tissue and any damaged bone will then be removed. The healthy part of the tooth root will be sealed with filling material, and the incision in the gums will be sutured closed. Sometimes, a metal post (stainless steel or titanium) may be placed into the root canal to support a future dental crown.