A Brief Overview of Apicoectomy

Posted on 11/22/2021 by Dr McMurray

Commonly known as root end surgery, an apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure done under local anesthesia on adults and children to prevent severe complications and save at-risk teeth. It involves the removal of an apex of a tooth's root. The dental procedure is often done on patients who underwent tooth canal treatment but still have problems with the affected tooth due to recurring infections.

Who Needs Apicoectomy?

Patients who benefit from apicoectomy have already undergone root canal treatment but did not benefit from the procedure. If our professionals suggest this procedure, it means that root canal treatment cannot save your tooth. An alternative to root end surgery is removing the affected tooth to avoid the infection of adjacent teeth. Apicoectomy aims to preserve the function of your tooth.

What Happens During Apicoectomy?

The first step of an apicoectomy is administering local anesthesia to patients to make them comfortable. An incision is then made in the gum near the affected tooth to get rid of infected or inflamed tissue. Our endodontist will proceed to remove the apex of your tooth's root. A small filling is then used to seal the end of the root canal. The gum tissue is then sealed with stitches to allow the smooth healing of the bone that is around the end of the root. After the procedure, it takes a few months before a patient completely recovers.

The recovery journey is not complicated as long as you adhere to the instructions our professionals give you. Recovering patients might experience swelling and slight discomfort before they fully heal. Patients are advised to contact our professionals if the pain does not respond to the prescribed medication. An X-ray will be carried out after twelve months to help determine if the affected bone healed successfully. Get in touch with our professionals if you think you might benefit from apicoectomy.

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South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, 5595 Winfield Blvd, Suite 202, San Jose, CA 95123-1220 | San Jose - (408) 479-9449, Gilroy - (408) 479-87 | svofs.com | 5/25/2023 | Tags: oral surgeon San Jose CA 95123 |