Apicoectomy
When inflammation lingers at the tip of a root after a root canal, a small surgical procedure called an apicoectomy can treat it directly and save the tooth.
When it is needed
Most teeth heal after a root canal. Occasionally a tooth stays inflamed, or a problem appears that does not show on a flat x-ray, such as a small fracture or an unusual canal near the root tip. An apicoectomy, also called root-end resection, lets Dr. El-Refai see and treat that area directly.
What happens
- The area is numbed with local anesthetic.
- A small opening is made in the gum to reach the bone over the root tip.
- The inflamed tissue and the very end of the root are removed.
- A small filling seals the end of the root.
- The gum is closed with a few stitches.
The bone heals around the root naturally over the following months.
Questions patients ask
Is an apicoectomy painful?
The area is fully numbed. Most people describe some soreness and swelling for a few days afterward, which over-the-counter pain relief usually handles.
How long is recovery?
Most people are back to normal activities the next day. The gum heals over a week or two, and the bone around the root fills in over the following months.
Related
Relief starts with a call
Call or text, and we will find the soonest time that works. If you are in pain, tell us when you call, and we will do everything we can to see you the same day.
3985 Medina Road, Suite 160, Medina. Mon, Tue, Thu, 7 am to 4 pm.