Apicoectomy

In place of or in addition to a root canal treatment, our endodontist may recommend an apicoectomy if your dental infection has reached the tip of your tooth’s roots.

In most cases, once your tooth has undergone root canal therapy, it will last for the rest of your life and will not require further endodontic treatment. In certain situations, however, the tooth may not heal properly or may develop a new infection. When this occurs, we may recommend an endodontic treatment known as an apicoectomy, or endodontic surgery. An apicoectomy involves removing the apex of the tooth, or the very tip of the tooth root. The tooth root is the part of the tooth that extends into your jawbone to hold the tooth in place. Each tooth has at least one root, and some have multiple. If the end of the tooth root becomes inflamed or infected, our dentist may recommend an apicoectomy procedure.

An apicoectomy involves making a small incision in your gum tissues near the tooth in order to see the underlying bone. We can then remove the infected tissues, as well as the very end of the root tip. We place a small filling to seal the end of the root canal, and a few stitches may be needed to help your gum tissues heal. Over the next few months, your bone will heal around the end of the tooth root.

If you have a tooth that has undergone root canal therapy in the past but is causing pain once again, you may need an apicoectomy. Please call or visit one of our offices in Beavercreek or West Chester to learn more and to schedule your appointment. We are dedicated to improving your dental health and relieving your pain.