If a root canal procedure has been done in the past and the tooth becomes infected again, it’s often because of an ongoing problem near the apex of the root. In some cases, conventional root canal treatment might not solve the problem by itself, in these cases an apicoectomy procedure might be recommended in an effort to preserve the tooth.
An apicoectomy is a procedure in which the periodontist opens the gum tissue near the tooth to see the underlying bone and to remove any inflamed or infected tissue. The very end of the root is also removed and the root is sealed with a retrograde filling using a special material. This procedure may be necessary when inflammation and infection persists in the area around the root tip after root canal therapy or root canal re-treatment.
By doing the apicoectomy, we can improve the prognosis of the tooth as the last effort to keep the tooth in your mouth without the need to be extracted.