Apicoectomy Surgery Conroe TX
Why would I need Endodontic Surgery?
Generally, a root canal is all that is needed to save teeth with injured pulp from extraction. Occasionally, this non-surgical procedure will not be sufficient to heal the tooth and your endodontist will recommend surgery. Some teeth, when chronically infected, will develop a cyst at the root tip that will not heal after conventional non-surgical treatment. Endodontic surgery can be used to remove these cysts and seal the root end to prevent future infection. Damaged root surfaces or the surrounding bone may also be treated with this procedure. The most common surgery used to save damaged teeth is an apicoectomy or root-end resection.
What is an Apicoectomy?
The video on the right illustrates this simple 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.
Following the procedure, as with any surgery, there may be some discomfort, slight swelling or bruising while the area heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. To alleviate any discomfort and promote quick healing, appropriate medications will be recommended. We routinely see our surgery patients for a post-surgical check one week after surgery, and then again in six and/or 12 months for a recall examination.