Apicoectomy

If a tooth that has had root canal treatment becomes infected again, the problem often lies near the apex, the very tip of the root. In selected cases conventional root canal re-treatment cannot resolve the problem on its own, and an apicoectomy is recommended in an effort to preserve the tooth.

In an apicoectomy, the gum tissue near the tooth is opened to expose the underlying bone, and any inflamed or infected tissue is removed. The very end of the root is also removed, and the root canal is sealed with a retrograde filling of biocompatible material.

The apicoectomy improves the prognosis of the tooth as a final effort to keep it in your mouth and avoid extraction.