Endodontists work to help you keep your natural teeth. For many patients, root canals or endodontic retreatment suffice to save teeth. However, sometimes, the doctor needs to reach areas of the tooth not accessible in a root canal. In these cases, the endodontist opts to perform an apicoectomy.
For an apicoectomy Geneva IL, or in Orland Park IL, residents can trust us at Southwest Endodontics.
Usually, an endodontist can successfully treat infection in a tooth with a non-surgical root canal. Sometimes, however, a root canal does not always allow the doctor to completely remove all the infected pulp from the tooth. An apicoectomy is a surgical method your endodontist may use after a root canal to more completely clean out the infection or internal root canals of your tooth.
As with most endodontic procedures, apicoectomy serves as a last resort option to help save the tooth. If you choose not to have an apicoectomy, your only alternative will be extraction. Having your tooth pulled can lead to a long recovery and a large gap in your smile. Minimally invasive endodontic surgery can help you to avoid this discomfort.
The most common non-surgical endodontic procedure is a root canal, and apicoectomy ranks as the top type of surgery in this field. It may serve as an alternative to root canal treatment for those with complicated root canals or as a way to treat infected bone at the apex of the tooth.
During a typical root canal, the endodontist makes a small incision open the top of the tooth to reach the canals inside. Usually, this allows for full access to all the areas that require cleaning and sanitizing for a successful root canal. However, sometimes, the canals have structures that may make reaching them from the root end at the tip of the tooth easier. In these cases, the endodontist may choose to perform an apicoectomy.
Apicoectomy means cutting into the apex of the tooth, which is how the endodontist enters the root canals. The goal is to reach the area of the tooth under the gum line. They then make a small incision into this part of the tooth to reach the root canals from the end opposite where they would during a non-surgical root canal treatment.
The apicoectomy begins like many other endodontic procedures. First, the doctor needs to examine the inside of your tooth with 3D digital imaging. By seeing inside your tooth before making any incisions, your endodontist will plan the best way to access your tooth.
You will then have your mouth prepared for the apicoectomy with numbing anesthesia applied to your gums above the tooth. Next, once the anesthesia has your mouth numb, the endodontist will make an incision into the gum and bone at the infected tooth’s root. This allows them to remove any gum tissue or hard tissue that shows signs of inflammation and access the apex of the tooth.
The endodontist removes the apex of the tooth and clears the root canals if needed. They then add a filling to seal up the apex of the tooth and put stitches in your gum to reseal it.
The endodontist places a bone graft into the cut-out area of the bone. This material stimulates your body to heal the bone around the tooth more quickly than without the graft.
Complete healing of an apicoectomy takes many months but you will begin feeling back to normal in as little as a few days. Discomfort following surgery is normal. You may also have some swelling at the surgery site and redness. Follow all instructions from your endodontist regarding the care of the site and follow-up appointments.
During healing, take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to ease any discomfort you may have. If you still have pain after using over-the-counter medications, contact your endodontist at Southwest Endodontics.
Endodontic surgery is best performed by a trained specialist. You need an endodontic expert to treat your tooth’s interiors through surgical and non-surgical methods. Contact us at Southwest Endodontics to schedule your visit.
An apicoectomy could save your tooth. We have two locations offering endodontic treatments, including an apicoectomy Orland Park IL, and Geneva IL. Let us help you to keep your teeth and your smile.
