Endodontic Therapy

Why would I need Endodontic Surgery?

Generally, a root canal is all that is needed to save teeth with injured pulp from extraction. Occasionally, this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient to heal the tooth and your endodontist will recommend surgery. Endodontic surgery can be used to locate fractures or hidden canals that do not appear on x-rays but still manifest pain in the tooth. Damaged root surfaces or the surrounding bone may also be treated with this procedure. The most common surgery used to save damaged teeth is an apicoectomy or root-end resection.

Why would I need Endodontic Surgery?

Generally, a root canal is all that is needed to save teeth with injured pulp from extraction. Occasionally, this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient to heal the tooth and your endodontist will recommend surgery. Endodontic surgery can be used to locate fractures or hidden canals that do not appear on x-rays but still manifest pain in the tooth. Damaged root surfaces or the surrounding bone may also be treated with this procedure. The most common surgery used to save damaged teeth is an apicoectomy or root-end resection.

What is an Apicoectomy?

An Apicoectomy is a simple procedure. An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. A root-end filling is placed to prevent reinfection of the root and the gum is sutured. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months 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 will be recommended. If you have pain that does not respond to medication, please call our office.

What is an Apicoectomy?

An Apicoectomy is a simple procedure. An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. A root-end filling is placed to prevent reinfection of the root and the gum is sutured. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months 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 will be recommended. If you have pain that does not respond to medication, please call our office.

Have Apicoectomy Questions?

The human teeth are held in place by roots that extend into the jawbone. While the front teeth are supported by only one root, the rest such as the molars and premolars have two or more roots. Blood vessels and nerves enter the tooth via the apex which is the end or tip of the roots and travel through the canal in the root to the pulp chamber which is inside the crown which is seen in the mouth. Dentists clean the canals during the root canal treatment using special instruments known as files which involve the removal of infected or inflamed tissue. In case of an infection after the process or retreatment or recurrent root canal infection, an apicoectomy is needed. Root canals tend to be so complex especially with the numerous tiny branches off the main canal. The infected tissue can therefore easily remain in these branches even after treatment which can prevent proper healing or result in reinfection.

It is at this point that apicoectomy, which is also referred to as endodontic surgery, is a dental procedure used in the treatment of apical periodontitis or tooth abscess or inflammation of the roots of the teeth comes in. It involves removal of the root apex along with the infected tissue and then a filling used to seal the end of the root. Since it is done using an operating microscope, this procedure is in some instances referred to as endodontic microsurgery.

Apicoectomy is suitable in cases where root canal treatment has been done in the past either once (which is referred to as the primary root canal therapy) or twice (nonsurgical root canal retreatment or retreatment therapy) but unfortunately has not been effective. This procedure is rarely recommended after the first root canal treatment as the dentists, using the latest dental technology prefer to carry out the second root canal therapy to identify any inadequately treated canals before proceeding with the procedure. Apicoectomy is only considered in cases where the two phases of treatment do not work.

Apicoectomy is carried out by a dental specialist known as an endodontist.

Most apicoectomies take between 30 min and 90 min to complete. The treated area can however experience some swelling or soreness following the procedure.

It is a dental procedure used in getting rid of infected or inflamed root canal tissue and the entire root tip. It is only applicable in cases where the initial root canal therapy and retreatment both either work or are not effective.

The procedure involves opening the gum tissue near the tooth to identify the infected or inflamed tissue that is later on removed together with the root canal tip.

Even though one can drive themselves home or elsewhere after an apicoectomy, it is essential to ask the endodontist before the appointment to ensure that one makes the crucial transportation plans.

The stitches that one gets after an apicoectomy need to be removed between 2 days and seven days after the procedure to prevent them from dissolving by themselves. All the soreness and swelling on the other hand disappear within two weeks. Regardless of being considered surgery, most people recover from apicoectomy easier than the original root canal therapy.

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