Generally, a root canal treatment is all you need to treat a tooth after injury or an infection. However, sometimes, more than this non-surgical treatment may be required. In such cases, the endodontist offers apicoectomy (endodontic surgery) to surgically remove your tooth’s tip (apex) to prevent re-infection and promote long-term oral health.
Endodontics Associates of Georgia offers standard root canals, but when you need endodontic surgery, you can count on Dr. Damaries Candelario-Soto, Dr. Yanina Figueroa, Dr. Joseph Yoo, Dr. Shaletha Bolden, and Yasir Al-Drugh. We use the latest endodontic techniques and equipment to provide the best outcomes, even for complex procedures like apicoectomy.
What Is An Apicoectomy?
Also known as root-end surgery or root-end resection, apicoectomy removes the infection inside a tooth and repairs the root tip. Root-end surgery is recommended when a standard root canal fails or is not an option.
While root canals are designed to last a lifetime, sometimes the tooth doesn’t heal well and becomes reinfected. In such a case, your doctor will recommend root-end resection to address the recurrent infections and prevent your tooth from extraction.
We’ll also recommend apicoectomy to:
- Remove calcium deposits from the root canals.
- Resolve tooth fracture.
- Treat hidden root canals that don’t appear on X-rays.
- Treat curved or narrow root canals.
Removing the apex of the tooth eliminates harmful bacteria lodged within the lateral canal or other areas unreachable with a standard root canal. If you don’t treat your tooth with apicoectomy, the infection will progress, leading to further health complications like tooth loss. Additionally, you’ll experience prolonged pain, swelling, and other discomforts as long as the infection lingers. Worse yet, uncontrolled oral infection may seep into the bloodstream, causing sepsis and other life-threatening complications.
What Should I Expect From The Apicoectomy Procedure?
The first step is a consultation to use 3D scans to visualize the tooth and assess its anatomy. This planning helps us identify the best approach to treat your tooth precisely and conservatively. Our root-end surgery involves using state-of-the-art surgical instruments like endodontic microscopy. Using cutting-edge technology from start to finish takes the guesswork out of the procedure and ensures precise outcomes for superior results.
Before the procedure, we optimize your comfort by using an accurate dosage of anesthetics. Once you are comfortable, the doctor performs apicoectomy by incising the gums around the afflicted tooth. The dentist removes the infected tissues alongside the root tip using this access hole. Next, we’ll seal the root end with a special filling to prevent future re-infections. Finally, we’ll suture the gum tissues to kick-start healing. The jawbone will grow around the treated root in the following months to restore full function.
Immediately after treatment, you’ll experience mild swelling, bruising, and pain. This is expected for any surgical procedure. We’ll give you medications and home remedies to minimize pain and prevent health complications. Furthermore, we’ll schedule follow-up appointments to ensure your tooth is healing as expected.
Do You Need Root-End Surgery?
If you are experiencing recurrent infections or pain of an endodontic nature, it’s time to talk to Endodontics Associates of Georgia about apicoectomy. Call (770) 952-0195 to schedule an appointment with any of our Atlanta, Kennesaw, Roswell, and Cartersville offices.
Meet the Doctors of Endodontics Associates Group
At Endodontics Associates Group, our board-certified endodontists bring exceptional skill, compassion, and advanced technology to every root canal procedure. With multiple convenient locations, our team is dedicated to saving natural teeth and relieving dental pain using the most biologically respectful techniques available, including GentleWave® therapy, CBCT imaging, and laser-assisted disinfection.
Each of our doctors is a specialist in diagnosing and treating complex dental pain, calcified canals, retreatments, and apical surgeries. We collaborate closely with general dentists and specialists to ensure seamless care and predictable results. Whether you're a patient in need of urgent relief or a referring dentist seeking expert support, our doctors are here to help.
Our mission is simple: preserve teeth, protect health, and provide peace of mind—one root canal at a time.