Endodontic Microsurgery 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.
Apicoectomy: Advanced Endodontic Treatment
At Fairlawn Endodontics, our priority is saving your natural teeth. There are many oral health complications that can put one of your teeth at risk, like damage, decay, or infection.
Without treatment, you may experience extreme tooth sensitivity or pain, issues chewing foods, or a spread of infection to other areas of the mouth. One way to prevent these further complications is to remove your tooth. However, you do have other options.
Endodontics is a specialized area of dentistry focused on root anatomy and saving your natural teeth. With our training and experience, the specialists in microscopic endodontics can perform procedures that clear infection from the canals in the roots of your teeth. These treatments can last a lifetime.
One of the specialized procedures our experts at Fairlawn Endodontics may recommend is an apicoectomy. If you have complications following a root canal treatment, this next step in surgical endodontic treatment can save your tooth and prevent future complications.
What is an apicoectomy?
An Apicoectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the infection located at root ends of your tooth. The roots are the part of your teeth that extend into the gums. The very tips of these roots are called the root ends. These root ends along with any surrounding inflamed or infected tissue, are removed during an apicoectomy while the top of your tooth is left intact.
An apicoectomy is different from a root canal, though both procedures help manage disease without the loss of your tooth, an Apicoectomy is considered endodontic microsurgery and requires the use of a microscope.
Why do you need an apicoectomy?
Your endodontist might recommend an apicoectomy if you have previously had a root canal that was unsuccessful. You may have developed further complications that require the removal of your root end.
Anatomical concerns, such as one root tip crowding one next to it, may also be treated with an apicoectomy. They are also a common treatment for tooth injuries in children or adults if the root of the tooth becomes damaged or cracked due to impact or trauma.
What can you expect before, during, and after an apicoectomy?
Since an apicoectomy is considered endodontic surgery, your dental specialist will administer an anesthetic before beginning the procedure to help prevent pain and discomfort.
During your apicoectomy, your endodontist will cut through the gum tissue near the infection or injured area of your root end. Using specialized tools and a microscope, infected tissue and the root tip are removed. Finally, the endodontist will place a root-end filling to help prevent further infection, and use stitches to help your gum heal.
While recovering, you will probably have mild discomfort for a few days. Over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help with pain. Until the stitches are removed, you will also need to be careful when brushing or flossing.
Specialized Dentistry You Can Trust
Our team at Fairlawn Endodontics has the training and experience to offer procedures, such as an apicoectomy, that can help you save a natural tooth and treat damage and decay. Contact us to learn more.