What is apical surgery?

A tooth that has undergone a root canal treatment can ast a lifetime with proper care. However, in some cases, a tooth may not heal properly or may become infected. In this case, surgery may be needed to save the tooth. The most common surgery is called apicoectomy or root-end resection.

In this procedure, the endodontist will open the gum tissue at or near the tip of the root of the tooth and examine the underlying bone in the area. He or she will then proceed to remove any inflamed or infected tissue and also the very end of the root. A small filling may be placed in the root to seal the end of the root canal and a few stitches or sutures are placed in the gingival to help the tissue heal properly. Over a period of months, the bone fills in and heals at the tip of the root.