Endodontic surgery

Generally, a root canal is sufficient to save teeth with injured pulp from extraction. However, sometimes, this non-surgical procedure will not be effective to heal the tooth and that is when the endodontic surgery is recommended.

Endodontic surgery can be used to locate painful fractures or hidden canals that otherwise do not appear on x-rays. The surgery also facilitates treatment of damaged root surfaces and the surrounding bone. Apicoectomy (or root-end resection) is the most common surgery used to save the damaged teeth.

Apicoectomy

Under this procedure, an incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. A root-end filling is placed to prevent reinfection of the root and the gum is sutured. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months restoring full function.