Root-End Surgery (Apicoectomy)
Why would I need endodontic surgery?
- Surgery can help save your tooth in a variety of situations.
- Surgery may be used in diagnosis. If you have persistent symptoms but no problems appear on your x-ray, your tooth may have a tiny fracture or canal that could not be detected during nonsurgical treatment. In such a case, surgery allows an examination of the root of your tooth to find the problem and provide treatment.
- Sometimes calcium deposits make a canal too narrow for the instruments used in nonsurgical root canal treatment to reach the end of the root. If your tooth has this "calcification," Dr. Wilson may recommend endodontic surgery to clean and seal the remainder of the canal.
- Usually, a tooth that has undergone a root canal can last the rest of your life and never need further endodontic treatment. However, in a few cases, a tooth may not heal or become infected. A tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. If this is true for you, surgery may help save your tooth.
- Surgery may also be performed to treat damaged root surfaces or surrounding bone.
Although there are many surgical procedures that can be performed to save a tooth, the most common is called apicoectomy or root-end resection. When inflammation or infection persists in the bony area around the end of your tooth after a root canal procedure, an apicoectomy procedure may have to be performed.
What is an apicoectomy? In this procedure, the gum tissue near the tooth are opened to see the underlying bone and to remove any inflamed or infected tissue. The very end of the root is also removed.
A small filling may be placed in the root to seal the end of the root canal, and a few stitches or sutures are placed in the gingiva to help the tissue heal properly.
Over a period of months, the bone heals around the end of the root.
Will the procedure hurt?
Local anesthetics make the procedure comfortable.
Of course, you may feel some discomfort or experience slight swelling while
the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. Dr. Wilson
will recommend appropriate pain medication to alleviate your discomfort.
Dr. Wilson will give you specific postoperative instructions to follow. If
you have questions after your procedure, or if you have pain that does not
respond to medication, call our office at 541-768-0419.
Can I drive myself home?
Often you can, but you should ask Dr. Wilson before
your appointment so that you can make transportation arrangements if necessary.
When can I return
to my normal activities?
Most patients return to work or other routine activities
the next day. Dr. Wilson will be happy to discuss your expected recovery
time with you.
How do I know the surgery will be successful?
Your dentist or Dr. Wilson is suggesting endodontic surgery because he or
she believes it is the best option for saving your own natural tooth. Of
course, there are no guarantees with any surgical procedure. Dr. Wilson will
discuss your chances for success so that you can make an informed decision.
What are the alternatives to endodontic surgery?
Often, the only alternative to surgery is extraction of the tooth. The extracted
tooth must then be replaced with an implant, bridge, or removable partial
denture to restore chewing function and to prevent adjacent teeth from shifting.
Because these alternatives require surgery or dental procedures on adjacent
healthy teeth, endodontic surgery is usually the most biologic and cost-effective
option for maintaining your oral health.
No matter how effective modern artificial tooth replacements are - and they can be very effective - nothing is as good as a natural tooth. You've already made an investment in saving your tooth. The pay-off for choosing endodontic surgery could be a healthy, functioning natural tooth for the rest of your life.