Does Meridian Endodontics Perform Apicoectomy?

An apicoectomy is a simple, modest surgical operation performed on both adults and children to save at-risk teeth and avert potentially dangerous consequences. Another name for an apicoectomy procedure is root-end surgery performed at Meridian Endodontics. This is because it requires removing the surrounding tissue and tip of a tooth’s root. Apical surgery is another name for it, and it relates to the “apex,” or end, of the tooth.

If your dentist advises you to have an apicoectomy, it is most often due to lingering inflammation or infection in the root tip that extends into your jawbone, even after your tooth has had a root canal. Continue reading to learn more about the apicoectomy procedure, why it’s needed, and about apicoectomy before and after care.

What is the procedure for an Apicoectomy?

Before an apicoectomy procedure, you could have X-rays of your jaw and teeth taken. This makes it easier for your dentist to see issues with a root canal, the surrounding bone and tissue, and the roots. 

• You will get a local anesthetic to numb the region surrounding the damaged tooth before anything further is done.

• To access the root, your dentist or endodontist will make incisions in your gums and push the gum tissue aside. Typically, the diseased tissue around the root and a few millimeters of the root is removed.

• To prevent further infection, the tooth’s root canal is cleaned and sealed with a tiny filling after the root tip is removed. Your dentist or endodontist may then take another X-ray to ensure that your teeth and jaw are in good condition and that there are no gaps where a new infection may start.
• After that, the tissue will be sutured or sewn to allow your gums to regrow and heal properly. Eventually, the area around the filling at the end of the root will also heal in your jawbone. During the operation, you shouldn’t experience any pain or discomfort at all.

• This operation typically takes 30 to 90 minutes to complete. The only factors that affect the time are the tooth’s position and the complexity of the root structure.

Why an Apicoectomy surgery is needed?

There are several reasons why your dentist would perform a root canal. The most typical is to attempt to restore a tooth that has already undergone one. Root canals typically last a lifetime, but occasionally, the tooth re-infects itself due to poor healing. If necessary, your dentist will extract diseased tissue during an apicoectomy surgery to preserve the tooth rather than extract it. Additionally, a root-end resection may be required to:

• Take out any calcium buildup within the root canal. 
• Identify and address issues that aren’t visible on an X-ray. 
• If there is no other way to treat a tooth with additional roots, take care of it. 
• Address the bone loss causing crooked teeth. 
• Take out a root with a hole in it.

Apicoectomies are also frequently used to treat children’s tooth damage. If an impact fractures or cracks a tooth, this technique can help preserve it.

What happens before and after the apicoectomy procedure?

After the apicoectomy procedure, once the anesthesia wears off, you may feel some discomfort and puffiness. However, this gradually improves over the following few days, and you should be able to return to normalcy in the next day or two. Your oral health professional may recommend antibiotics to combat and lessen an existing infection or to avoid infection after surgery. Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen ought to be sufficient in situations of pain. Usually, stitches may be taken out after a week or so. While the stitches are still in place, you must use extreme caution when cleaning and flossing the area around the surgical site.

What are the success and failure rates for an apicoectomy? 

Apicoectomies are regarded as standard outpatient dental operations. Research done in 2020 found that, on average, over 75% of cases had satisfactory results after 10–13 years, and over 97% of cases that had been seen up to that point had outstanding results after apical surgery up to 5 years. Only when an apicoectomy after a failed root canal is unable to relieve symptoms appropriately or does not heal adequately is surgery deemed unsuccessful. In the field of this operation, failure is quite uncommon and usually happens when your dentist or endodontist lacks enough training. According to 2011 research, a gap in the filling near the end of the root is the main cause of apical surgical failure. This may allow the germs to re-infiltrate the tooth.

Conclusion

An apicoectomy is a common outpatient surgical operation used to preserve teeth when root canal therapy alone is insufficient. It may play a critical role in averting major issues with the condition of your jaw and mouth. When a root canal treatment fails, and an infection is present near the tooth’s root tip, apicoectomies are typically advised. Be advised that having your whole tooth extracted is an alternative to an apicoectomy. Thus, if your dentist suggests it, really consider having root tip surgery. Don’t put off deciding whether to get an apicoectomy. Serious issues with your dental health might arise from an infection that spreads around one of your teeth.