Apical surgery, also known as an apicoectomy, is a minor dental procedure whereby your specialist removes inflamed gum tissue and the end of your tooth roots while preserving the top of your tooth. The treatment can be performed on adults and children to avoid tooth extraction. Because Apical Surgery Georgetown works on the tip of your tooth root (apex), it is often called root-end resection. Read on to learn more about this dental procedure.
How does apical surgery differ from a root canal?
A root canal procedure is designed to treat an infection in the pulp tissue of your tooth. If left unresolved, inflammation in the pulp can cause tooth decay and abscesses, affecting your bone. During a root canal procedure, your dentist makes small incisions on your tooth to access the pulp. The dentist removed the infected pulp and cleaned the canals, fills, and seals. A root canal treats an infection while preserving your tooth structure.
On the other hand, apicoectomy only deals with the end or tips of the roots and is often performed to fix a tooth that already had a root canal.
When would I need apical surgery?
There are different reasons why your dentist may recommend root end surgery. The most common one is to fix a tooth that already had a root canal. Root canals usually last a lifetime, but sometimes, a re-infection might occur due to poor healing. In such cases, your dentist uses apical surgery to remove the damaged tissue while saving the tooth. Your dentist can also use this procedure to remove calcium deposits in the root canal, treat a fracture, remove a root with a hole, treat bone loss, and treat a tooth with extra roots.
What to expect during apical surgery
Before the procedure, your dentist might take X-rays of your teeth and jaw to establish the issues in your root canal, roots, and surrounding bone and tissue. Your dentist will apply numbing cream on a section of your gums before injecting local anesthesia into the treatment area. Next, the dentist makes a small incision in your gums and around the affected tooth to examine the bone and remove infected tissue. Sometimes, your dentist may need to remove the root’s end and refill the root canal’s tip. Finally, the dentist stitches up the opening to allow the gums to heal.
Is apical surgery painful?
The procedure causes minimal discomfort; you should not experience severe pain since your dentist uses local anesthesia to numb the treatment area. An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure in your dentist’s office offered on an outpatient basis. It is safe to drive yourself home after apical surgery. You may rest for the remainder of the day, but you can resume normal activities soon after the procedure, when pain has subsided.
Since your gums are cut and stitched, it is normal to have minor bleeding; this should stop after one to two hours. But you can slow blood flow and stop bleeding by elevating your head when resting.
If you have further questions about apical surgery, consult your dentist at RR Dentistry.