Apicoectomy: Revive Your Tooth

An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure where the tip of the tooth root is cut and sealed. The term comes from “apico” (apex or end) and “ectomy” (removal).

If an infection occurs or persists after a root canal treatment, an apicoectomy (also known as root-end surgery) may be required. This recommendation suggests that traditional root canal treatment may not be sufficient to save your tooth.

The apicoectomy procedure typically takes between 30 to 90 minutes.

Most patients can return to their daily activities the next day after an apicoectomy. You may experience some pain and swelling as you recover. Be sure to follow our post-operative instructions, including diet and brushing tips. If the pain persists despite following the recovery guidelines, please contact us immediately.

Dr. Adatrow will administer local anesthesia to eliminate any pain or discomfort. An incision is made in the gum around the tooth to expose and remove any inflamed or contaminated tissue. The tip of the tooth root is then removed, and a small filling is placed at the end of the root canal to seal it. The gum tissue is closed with a few stitches, and the bone around the root’s end heals over the next few months.

An apicoectomy is performed on the root of the tooth, while a root canal procedure is done on the tooth itself (the part above the gum that you chew with). In an apicoectomy, the infected tissue is accessed through the root tip (apex), and a filling is placed to seal the root’s end.

An apicoectomy may be the treatment of choice in the following scenarios:

1. The tooth has already undergone at least one root canal treatment, and retreatment was not successful or is not possible.
2. The tooth has a crown or is part of a dental bridge, and retreatment would require cutting through the crown or bridge, which might not be a viable option.

The statistics show a success rate ranging from 25-85% depending on the doctor’s expertise and the advanced technology used. With Dr. Adatrow’s high expertise and latest technology at Advanced Dental Implants and TMJ Center, we have a high success rate for all the procedures performed.

Either your dental or medical or both might cover your apicoectomy treatment based on the reason for your need for the treatment. You can call your insurance agency and discuss your insurance benefits; we can help you in doing the same. If you have any other questions, you can always reach out to us.

After performing the apicoectomy, our dental team will provide you with the following instructions for the recovery period –

• Once the anesthetic wears off, you can feel some mild pain and swelling. This steadily decreases over the next few days, however, and you should be able to resume regular activities within a day or two.
• To help battle an existing infection or prevent a post-operative infection, Dr. Adatrow might prescribe antibiotics. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen should be sufficient for pain.
• Within a week, stitches are usually removed. When the stitches are in place, you may need to be careful to brush and floss at the site of your surgery.

The type of material used for sealing the apicoectomy, the requirement of sedation, and the number of teeth or extent of the defect would determine the treatment cost. Moreover, the benefits of your insurance plan would determine the price of your procedure. You can schedule a consultation with us to determine the ideal treatment for you and then check with your insurance coverage. You can approach us with any questions you might have. Our team is here to serve you.

We at Advanced Dental & TMJ Center thrive for providing world-class care to our patients. We make sure that all our patients are comfortable and satisfied with their treatment. Dr. Adatrow is passionate about providing personalized care. He spends time with the patients, understands his patient’s condition, and recommends the best possible treatment. He has intensively trained in the University of Tennessee and Indiana University hospital in surgical dentistry, laser dentistry, dental implants and administering sedation to his patients. He is the only practicing board-certified periodontist and prosthodontist in the southern United States. He has experience of more than 17 years.