Apicoectomy (Apical Surgery)

An apicoectomy is a procedure in which the endodontist opens the gum tissue near the root of the tooth to see the underlying bone and to remove any inflamed or infected tissue. The very end of the root is also removed. Root Canal Specialists have specialized surgical skills and microscopes to aid in successful results when performing apicoectomies.

Although there are many surgical procedures that can be performed to save a tooth, the most common is called apicoectomy or root-end resection. When inflammation or infection persists in the bony area around the end of your tooth after a root canal procedure, the endodontist may have to perform an apicoectomy.

The diagram below shows how the gum tissue is opened to allow removal of the infected tissue.

The endodontist may place a small filling in the root to seal the end of the root canal, and several stitches or sutures are placed in the gingiva to help the tissue heal properly.

Over a period of months, new bone fills in and the area around the end of the root heals.

Southwest Endodontics, Root Canals, St. George, UT, Dentist Endodontist, Root Canal Dentist, Root Canal Pain, Endodontist, Endodontics, Board Certified