Apicoectomy, also known as root end surgery, is a dental surgical procedure that is applied after a root canal procedure has failed. The procedure is complex and involves removing the tip of the tooth’s root, which is then filled with a material.
Root End Surgery Procedure
A root end surgery is necessary to save a tooth that has undergone an unsuccessful root canal therapy, which failed to remove the nerve of the tooth. When a root canal therapy fails, the procedure can be repeated, but in some cases, this is not advisable, so in order to avoid the extraction of the tooth, a root end surgery will be recommended.
The procedure involves surgery and will be performed under local anesthesia. The dental surgeon will remove the tip of the tooth’s root (the apex of the root). The root end will be prepared and disinfected and then the surgeon will apply a filling, which should be of a quality material that will be accepted by the gum tissue. Typically, calcium-silicate based materials are compatible with the gum tissue and are recommended as root end surgery filling.
The surgery will be performed using micro instruments, to ensure that the tip of the tooth is thoroughly cleaned and prepared for the filling. If the cleaning fails, in time, the tooth will develop an infection and this may lead to the need for an extraction or a new surgery.
After the surgery, a recovery time of 24 to 48 hours is needed. The apicoectomy is an outpatient procedure.
