Endodontic Microsurgery

Your teeth are held in place by roots that extend into your jawbone. An apicoectomy might be needed if an infection in the roots develops or persists after a root canal.

The procedure

In an apicoectomy, the root tip is removed along with the infected tissue. Gum tissue near the tooth is opened, which allows your endodontist to see the underlying bone and remove any inflamed or infected tissue. Your endodontist may remove the very end of the tooth’s root.

A small filling may be placed on the root to seal the end of the root canal. A few stitches or sutures are placed in the gums to help the tissue heal properly around the end of the root over a period of months.