Procedures

Apicoectomy

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 a root end procedure. Endodontic root end surgery can be used to locate fractures or hidden canals that do not appear on x-rays but still manifest pain in the tooth. Damaged root surfaces or the surrounding bone may also be treated with this procedure. The root end procedure most often involves removing the last several millimeters of the diseased root end and placing a filling in the end of the remaining portion of the root.

What is an Apicoectomy?

The above diagram illustrates this simple procedure. An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the tooth’s root end within 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 flap is sutured. With a high degree of predictability, the bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months restoring full function and comfort.

Following the procedure, there may be some discomfort or slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. To alleviate any discomfort, an appropriate pain medication will be recommended. Although rare, if you were to have pain that does not respond to medication, please call our office right away.

How much will it cost?

The cost associated with this procedure can vary depending on factors such as the severity of damage to the affected tooth and which tooth is affected. In general, endodontic treatment is much less expensive than tooth removal and replacement with an artificial tooth. Please click here to view Patient and Insurance Billing information or call our office at (480) 699-2940 for specific questions.