Apicoectomy (Root-End Resection, Endodontic Microsurgery) – Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, TX

Root canal therapy ideally removes the infection from the treated tooth, but the tooth’s roots contain several tiny branches where bacteria may remain or come back. If your tooth is still infected or gets another infection after your root canal therapy is complete, our DFW area dentists often suggest an apicoectomy. An effective solution, an apicoectomy takes out any infected gum tissue around the tooth’s root, in addition to the affected tip or tips. Also called endodontic microsurgery, an apicoectomy may save the upper area of the tooth to avoid disturbing a dental restoration (crown or bridge). After one or more root canal procedures, contact Ah! Dentistry to try a better solution through an apicoectomy.

An ideal candidate for an apicoectomy should have already had a root canal, but the infection returned or remained in the tips of the tooth root. After you undergo root canal therapy, a bridge or crown is usually used to protect and strengthen the tooth. This can make another root canal or endodontic treatment challenging if the root tips are infected since these procedures may weaken or destroy the bridge or crown. If you have a restoration, an apicoectomy at Ah! Dentistry may be the best method to eliminate the current infection while also preventing other infections.

Before starting a procedure, our dental team will assess your teeth and gums and then give you your treatment choices before selecting an apicoectomy. To start the treatment, local anesthesia will be used. Sedation techniques can be added based on the complexity of your treatment or to alleviate dental anxiety and fears. The treatment will start by creating an incision through the gum tissue to get to the tooth’s root. Any infected gum tissue and root tips will be addressed before the remaining tooth is thoroughly cleaned. To make sure the infection is completely removed, a dental dye will highlight tooth cracks. When your tooth is sealed, your Ah! Dentistry dentist will close the gums using stitches.

After an apicoectomy, you may be given a prescription for antibiotics or pain medication. You may also use cold compresses to reduce inflammation for the first day following your apicoectomy. You might experience some numbness, soreness, or bruising for several days. A member of our team will talk to you about instructions for your recovery. While you are healing, you need to avoid aggressive cleaning and hard foods. If needed, you should come back to our office in a few days to have your stitches taken out. Typically, your gums and teeth should heal around two weeks after your treatment. To reduce future problems, you need to maintain a home oral care routine with frequent flossing and brushing. Additionally, you need to go to yearly dental examinations and twice-yearly professional cleanings at Ah! Dentistry so we can watch your dental health and address problems early.

Usually, an apicoectomy is covered in part by your insurance. We can talk to your insurance provider to estimate your personal costs. For patients without insurance paying out of pocket, Ah! Dentistry takes several payment methods. In your initial consultation, we can provide information on medical financing that may help make your apicoectomy better fit into your budget.