When Is Endodontic Surgery Necessary?
Endodontic surgery, also known as apicoectomy, is a procedure that will sometimes allow us to fix and maintain a tooth with a failing root canal.
1. Purpose: The goal is to remove infected or inflamed tissue at the root tip of your tooth and seal the root to prevent further infection.
2. Procedure:
- We'll make a small incision in your gum near the affected tooth.
- The infected tissue and a small portion of the root tip will be removed.
- We'll clean and seal the end of the root canal.
- Finally, we'll close the incision with a few stitches.
3. Anesthesia: You'll receive local anesthesia, so you shouldn't feel pain during the procedure.
4. Duration: The surgery usually takes 45-90 minutes, depending on the complexity.
5. Recovery: You may experience some swelling and discomfort for a few days, but this can be managed with Advil (Ibuprofen) or Tylenol (Acetaminophen).
6. Success rate: This procedure generally has a high success rate and can often save a tooth that might otherwise need to be extracted.
7. Follow-up: We'll schedule a follow-up appointment to remove stitches and check your healing progress.