What is an apicoectomy?


Your teeth are held in their place by roots that extend all the way into your jawbone. Your front teeth usually have one root while other teeth like your premolars and molars may have two or more roots. The tips or the end of the roots are called the apex and this is where the nerves and the blood vessels enter the tooth. These nerves travel through the canal of the root all the way into the pulp chamber. The chamber is found inside the crown which is the part of the tooth that is visible in your mouth.

During root canal treatment, the canals are cleaned and any inflamed or infected tissue is removed. An apicoectomy is necessary when infection develops and refuses to go away after a root canal treatment. Root canals are very complex and they have several small branches off the main canal. There are times where even after root canal treatment; there will still be infected debris in the branches. This will prevent healing and may even cause more infections later on. In an apicoectomy, the root tip or the apex is removed along with the infected tissue. A filling is placed afterwards so that the end of the root is sealed. Apicoectomies are usually referred to as endodontic microsurgery since it is usually done under an operating microscope.

What is an apicoectomy used for?

If a root canal procedure was done in the past and your tooth still becomes infected then the problem may be near the apex of the root. In several cases, another root canal treatment is done before an apicoectomy. With the advances in technology, dentists will be able to detect other canals that were not treated properly. In this situation, the infection can be cleared up by doing a second root canal. When this is done, an apicoectomy is avoided.

An apicoectomy can be done in order to fix the problem so that tooth extraction is avoided. Apicoectomy is only done after two root canal treatments that are unsuccessful. For instance, retreatment is not a good option if a tooth has a crown or if it has a bridge. Retreatment of the root canal will require cutting through the crown or through the bridge and may weaken or even destroy it. Apicoectomies are considered in this situation. Apicoectomies are not the same as root resectioning because root resectioning removes the entire root whilst apicoectomies merely remove the tip.

How do you prepare for an apicoectomy?

Before the apicoectomy, you will have a consultation with your dentist and find out who will perform it. Your dentist, your oral surgeon, or your endodontist can perform this surgery. With advances in endodontic microsurgery, this procedure is best done by an endodontist.

Prior to the surgery, your dentist will take several x-rays of the tooth and the surrounding bone. You will be given an antimicrobial mouth rinse, medications to reduce the inflammation, and antibiotics. Your dentist will review your medical and dental history. Your dentist may have to consult with your physician if there are any pre-existing medical conditions that may complicate the procedure.

How is apicoectomy done?

Your endodontist will cut and lift the gum away from the tooth so that there will be access to the root. The infected tissue will be removed and then the last few millimtres of the root tip will be removed as well. The endodontist will use a dye to highlight the cracks and the breaks in the tooth in order to determine whether extraction or apicoectomy will be performed. If there are too many cracks and breaks then extraction will be done.

In order to accomplish an apicoectomy, the endodontist will cleanse and close the end of the tooth’s canal. The cleaning will be performed using a microscope that has ultrasonic instruments. The light and the magnification will allow the endodontist to clearly see the area. This will increase the chances of the procedure succeeding. The endodontist will take an x-ray of the area before the tissues are stitched back into place.

An apicoectomy will take around thirty minutes to one and a half hours. The length of the operation depends on the complexity of the root structure and the location of the tooth. Procedures that are done on the front teeth are the shortest whilst procedures on the lower molars take the longest.

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