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Saving Your Tooth With an Apicoectomy

Sometimes a tooth that has already had a root canal continues to show signs of infection near the tip of the root. When a standard root canal or retreatment cannot resolve the problem, an apicoectomy lets our specialists treat the very end of the root directly and save your natural tooth. When your general dentist refers you to our practice, we take the time to diagnose the source of your discomfort and recommend the treatment most likely to keep your tooth in place for years to come.

Endodontist performing an apicoectomy under a dental operating microscope

What is an Apicoectomy?

Patient smiling in the treatment chair during an endodontic consultation
Endodontist preparing for root end surgery on a patient
What is an Apicoectomy?
An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure that treats infection or inflammation at the apex, or tip, of a tooth’s root. It is also known as root end resection or endodontic microsurgery. When a tooth cannot be saved by a normal root canal, your endodontist makes a small incision in the gum near the affected root to reach and remove the inflamed or infected tissue. We then remove the very tip of the root and seal the end with a small filling before closing the gum with a few stitches so the area can heal.

Because endodontists are focused on saving natural teeth, an apicoectomy is often the treatment that lets you keep a tooth that would otherwise need to be removed. No matter how effective modern tooth replacements are, nothing works as well as your own natural tooth.

When is an Apicoectomy Needed?
A root canal is usually all a tooth needs to heal. Occasionally, infection or inflammation lingers around the root tip even after a root canal or a retreatment, often in small or hard to reach areas at the end of the root. An apicoectomy reaches these areas directly through the gum rather than through the crown of the tooth.

Your endodontist may recommend an apicoectomy when a previously treated tooth remains sore or tender, when swelling returns near the root, or when 3D imaging shows continued inflammation at the tip of the root that cannot be resolved another way. Treating the problem at its source protects both the tooth and the bone that surrounds it.

The Apicoectomy Procedure
Your visit begins with a friendly endodontic evaluation. We review your dental history, discuss your symptoms, and take advanced 3D cone beam CT (CBCT) images so we can see the root and the surrounding bone in detail and plan the procedure precisely.

On the day of your procedure, we numb the area with modern local anesthetic so you stay comfortable from start to finish. Using an endodontic microscope for a clear, magnified view, your endodontist makes a small opening in the gum near the root, removes the inflamed or infected tissue, and removes the very tip of the root. The end of the root is cleaned on a microscopic level with NASA approved tools and sealed with a small filling to prevent further infection. Finally, we close the gum with a few stitches. The procedure is typically completed in a single visit.

Advanced Technology for Precise Microsurgery
An apicoectomy is a microscopic procedure, so precise imaging and magnification matter. Our 3D cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging lets us study the exact shape and position of the root and the surrounding bone before we begin, and our endodontic microscopes give us a clear, magnified view of the root tip throughout the procedure. This helps us treat the infection thoroughly while protecting the healthy tooth and bone around it.
Comfort and Recovery
We understand that the word surgery can sound intimidating, and we are here to put you at ease. An apicoectomy is a routine procedure for our specialists, and most patients are comfortable throughout. We offer relaxing amenities such as blankets, in-ceiling TVs, headphones, and music, along with sedation options including nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, and oral or IV sedation following a consultation.

Most patients return to their normal routine the day after the procedure. Some mild swelling or tenderness for a few days is normal as the area heals, and your endodontist will give you simple instructions to keep you comfortable. Our team checks in after treatment and is available by phone after hours to answer any questions about your recovery.

Saving Your Natural Tooth
An apicoectomy is often the step that allows us to save a tooth after other treatments have been tried. Keeping your natural tooth preserves your bite, protects the surrounding bone, and spares you the need to replace the tooth with an implant or bridge. Our goal is always to relieve your pain and restore your tooth so it can serve you for years to come.

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Schedule Your Apicoectomy Consultation

If you have ongoing discomfort from a previously treated tooth, an apicoectomy may be the answer to saving it. Contact us today to schedule your endodontic evaluation at our location in Colorado Springs or Pueblo.
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Apicoectomy

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Endodontist using a surgical microscope during a procedure
3D cone beam CT imaging used to plan an apicoectomy
What is an apicoectomy?
An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure that removes the tip of a tooth’s root along with the infected tissue around it, then seals the end of the root to save the tooth. It is also called root end resection or endodontic microsurgery.
How is an apicoectomy different from a root canal?
A root canal treats the inside of the tooth through the crown. An apicoectomy treats the very end of the root directly through a small opening in the gum, and is used when infection remains after a root canal or retreatment.
Is an apicoectomy painful?
No. We numb the area with modern local anesthetic before we begin, and most patients are comfortable throughout. Sedation options are available, and any mild tenderness afterward is easily managed.
How long does recovery take?
Most patients return to their normal routine the next day. Light swelling or tenderness for a few days is normal, and your endodontist will give you simple aftercare instructions to help you heal comfortably.
Will I keep my tooth after an apicoectomy?
That is the goal. An apicoectomy is often the treatment that saves a natural tooth when other options have not resolved the infection, helping you avoid extraction and tooth replacement.

Have any additional questions?
Give us a call.

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