What are the risks involved in apicoectomy?


Your endodontist will review the risks of the procedure during your consultation. One of the main risks of the surgery is that it will not work. If this is the case then your tooth may have to be extracted instead.

Depending on the location of the tooth, there will be other risks like if the tooth is located in the back of the upper jaw then your sinuses may be affected. Your dentist may have to prescribe some antibiotics in order to prevent infection. You may also have to take some decongestants as well.

If the apicoectomy will be done on the back teeth close to the lower jaw then major nerves will be at risk. Surgery on one of your back teeth will carry a risk of nerve damage. In order to manage this risk, your endodontist will use x-rays to determine how close these nerves are to the teeth. With this information, the chances of nerve damage are significantly reduced. Apicoectomies are usuallt permanent solutions and they will last for as long as the tooth is there.

When should you call a professional?

If there is pain or swelling from a tooth that went through root canal treatment then you should call your dentist as soon as possible. There are times where pimples appear near the tooth after a root canal treatment. The pimple may go away and come back once in awhile. This is referred to as a fistula. It is a sign that there is an infection and it is being drained out. There is no pain in this case.

If you have symptoms like pain or fistula then you should contact your dentist. X-rays will be taken and if your dentist thinks that you need an apicoectomy then you should set up an appointment as soon as possible.

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