Procedures > Apicoectomy
Apicoectomy
Save Your Smile with Endodontic Surgery
Most of the time, a root canal can restore the health of your tooth and eliminate any accompanying pain. However, a root canal is not always enough. Our experienced endodontist, Dr. Gray, specializes in apicoectomies to treat even the most complex infections to give your smile a second chance.
What is an Apicoectomy?
An apicoectomy, also known as root-end resection surgery, is an endodontic procedure that takes place at the roots rather than the crown of the tooth, restoring your tooth from the bottom up. An apicoectomy treats infection or abscess by removing the tip of a tooth’s root where bacteria can hide in the tiny canals. This microsurgical procedure also eliminates the need for a new crown so that you can maintain the look and feel of your natural tooth.
When Do You Need An Apicoectomy
- When your root canal was not sufficient to combat the infection in your tooth
- When you have an infection but you want to keep an existing crown intact
- When you have a deep, persistent infection and you want to avoid extraction
- When the risks of a re-treatment outweigh the benefits if your tooth lacks structural integrity
A Typical Apicoectomy Procedure
- Using a high-powered operating microscope, Dr. Gray will create an opening in the gum tissue near your infected tooth.
- Any inflamed or infected tissue is removed, along with a small portion of the bone, to gain access to the tooth’s roots.
- The infected tip of the tooth’s root is trimmed. Special ultrasonic instruments are used to create a space in the end of the root, and a small filling is added to seal the root canal.
- A few sutures are placed to help the soft tissue heal quickly. The bone tissue will gradually heal around the tooth’s root in a matter of months.
Root Canal vs. Apicoectomy
Both procedures share the same goal: saving your natural tooth from extraction. However, they approach the infection from different angles.
| ROOT CANAL THERAPY | APICOECTOMY(ENDODONTIC MICROSURGERY) | |
| WHAT IS IT? | A non-surgical procedure to treat infected pulp inside the tooth. | A minor surgical procedure to remove infection at the tip of the tooth’s root. |
| PRIMARY GOAL | To clean, shape, and seal the inner canals of the tooth. | To remove persistent infection or cysts that a standard root canal cannot reach. |
| HOW WE ACCESS IT | We access the infection through the biting surface (top) of the tooth. | We access the root tip through a small incision in the gum tissue. |
| WHEN IT IS NEEDED | This is the first line of defense against tooth decay, cracks, or trauma that damages the pulp. | Recommended when a previous root canal hasn’t healed, or if narrow/curved canals block access to the infection. |
| THE RESULTS | The hollow space inside the tooth is filled with a rubber-like material (gutta-percha) to seal it. | The tip of the root is trimmed and sealed with a filling to aid healing in the surrounding bone. |
Still Unsure Which You Need?
f you still have questions, we are here to answer them. Whichever treatment is right for you, our goal remains the same: to relieve your pain and save your natural tooth.
Find Relief From Pain And Save Your Smile!
If you have been suffering from severe tooth pain and you want to save your tooth from needing extraction, our compassionate and experienced endodontist, Dr. Gray, can help. We are well-versed in treating complex dental cases and can perform professional, stress-free apicoectomies in our dental practice here in Rochester, MN. Call us today at 507-288-8363 to escape persistent tooth pain and save your smile!
A Healthy Smile For All
We look forward to seeing you here at Rochester Endodontics! Give our office a call to schedule your first visit.
