Endodontic Surgery

What is Endodontic Surgery?

Endodontic surgery can serve a variety of purposes, such as:

Diagnosis:

Surgery allows our doctors to examine the root in order to diagnose persistent problems and deliver the needed treatment.

Canal obstructions:

Surgery allows treatment of a tooth which has had previous root canal therapy but cannot receive non-surgical retreatment because of canal obstructions. In this way, the root is treated from the end, bypassing the obstruction.

Root or bone damage:

Surgery allows treatment of damaged root surfaces or surrounding bone.
Our doctors will be happy to discuss the specific type of surgery your tooth requires.

What is an Apicoectomy?

Apicoectomy, also called root end resection, is the most commonly performed endodontic surgery procedure. An apicoectomy is a surgical procedure used to remove infection from the root tip and the surrounding tissue. It is required when infection and inflammation persist after endodontic (root canal) therapy or endodontic retreatment therapy.

During apicoectomy, the gum tissue near the tooth is opened so that the underlying bone can be seen and inflamed and infected tissue can be removed. The end of the root tip is removed, as well. A root-end filling is placed and the gum is then sutured. Providing the area remains free of infection and inflammation, the bone heals naturally around the root.

What is a Hemisection?

This procedure consists of removal of one half of the tooth. The remaining half is then restored as a one-rooted tooth. This tooth is usually anchored or attached to an adjacent tooth for additional stability and support.

What is a Root Amputation?

In root amputation, one root of a multi-rooted tooth is removed.