Endodontic or Apical Surgery

Also known as root-end resection,  apicoectomy may be necessary if initial root canal therapy or re-treatment has failed. Sometimes, apicoectomy may be performed in conjunction with or instead of endodontic re-treatment.
This procedure treats the bony area surrounding the end of your tooth, which has become inflamed or infected. By folding back the gum near the tooth, your endodontist can access the underlying bone and extract the inflamed tissue. At the same time, the very tip of the root is removed and usually replaced with a small plug or filling.

Your endodontist will make a small incision into the gum tissue near your tooth to examine and diagnose the surrounding bone and to remove any inflamed or infected tissue. After this, the endodontist will fill the end of the root to seal it from future infection, and will suture the gum tissue together to encourage proper healing. Over the course of the next few months, the existing bone tissue will gradually grow back in to replace the infected tissue which was removed. Most patients are able to return to their normal routine as early as the day after their surgery.

Before committing to treatment, your endodontist will inform you of the specifics of your case, the risks and benefits of all proposed treatment options, as well as how to properly prepare for the procedure and steps to be taken after the procedure is finished.