Apicoectomy Endodontic Surgery

Apicoectomy Endodontic Surgery

Providing the Relief You Need

Have you recently had a root canal, but then continued to have pain or tooth swelling even after the treatment? For most patients who receive endodontic or root canal treatment, the infection and the accompanying agony immediately disappear once the root canal has been cleaned, disinfected, and filled. Unfortunately, there are rare cases where the complexity of canal branches leave a bit of remaining infected debris.

This trapped bit of polluted matter can re-infect the rest of your tooth and gums, at which point your dentist will suggest apicoectomy endodontic surgery. During this process, the infection must be eliminated along with the tip of the root. This can then be sealed to prevent future spread of infection. Here at City Endodontics PLLC, we are proud to offer a service to aid those who might have lost their teeth in the past.

Call us today at (212) 725-2573 so that you can find relief through apicoectomy for even the most complicated root issues.

Why Would I Need an Apicoectomy Endodontic Surgery?

While it might seem like your tooth is a simple, single piece of bone, there is really so much going on beneath the surface. Your roots are actually quite complicated pieces of anatomy. These root canals have their own tiny branches that narrowly curve from the main canal.

Due to the intricacy of these branches, it is occasionally possible that minute pieces of leftover infected debris could get caught in these portions of the canal, leading to another inflammation. If this is the case, it is highly unlikely that the infection would get better on its own, so you may need an apicoectomy.

How Surgery Can Help

There is a wide variety of situations in which apicoectomy can preserve your tooth. Remember, it is always preferable to keep your natural tooth than to have it extracted.

Some of the ways that apicoectomy can aid your tooth include:

  • Diagnosis of otherwise undetectable problems – Usually x-rays should identify the issues in your mouth, but if the fracture in your tooth is so small, or if the canal branch is so narrow, non-surgical detection can sometimes miss the issue. Surgery is an excellent way for your endodontist to scrutinize the whole root and provide immediate treatment.
  • Removal of hard calcification – When deposits of calcium get trapped in your canal branches, non-surgical treatment is no longer an option to clean out these leftover bits of debris. The delicate process of endodontic surgery can gently clean out even these minute extensions of the canal, allowing the dentist to seal them for good, so you will no longer be bothered by root pain.

How to Ease Pain After Apicoectomy

As with many other surgeries, it's not uncommon for patients to experience pain or discomfort after an apicoectomy. This pain or discomfort should only last between four to five days. However, many patients experience more severe pain on the third and fourth days after surgery compared to the first and second.

To ease pain after apicoectomy surgery, we recommend that you:

  • Apply ice: You can apply ice for up to 12 hours after your apicoectomy. First, apply ice to the affected area for 20 minutes. Next, remove the ice for 20 minutes. You can continue to alternate until you experience pain relief.
  • Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): For swelling, bruising, and/or pain which are common with apicoectomies, we recommend that you use over the counter medications, such as Motrin, Advil, Aleve, or Ibuprofen which help relieve pain and reduce any swelling or bruising.
  • Avoid disturbing the surgery site: To help reduce the chance of increased pain, we recommend that you avoid brushing near the surgery site. You may still rinse your mouth, but make sure you don't rinse too vigorously. Additionally, you should only eat soft foods, as hard or crunchy foods can easily disturb the surgery site. Lastly, consumption of tobacco is prohibited while your mouth is healing.

Maximum Restoration

Here at City Endodontics PLLC, our team is completely dedicated to making your experience as comfortable as possible, using local anesthesia so that you do not feel pain for any part of your apicoectomy endodontic surgery. After your root is sealed and gently stitched up, we provide complete instructions for post-operation procedures to keep you healing safely and wholly. If you feel any pain or soreness, you can immediately call for detailed recovery advice.

Contact us now at (212) 725-2573 if you have any questions regarding apicoectomy procedures.

Patient Testimonials

A Reason to Smile
  • “Dr. Johnson was very patient in answering all my questions and the root canal procedure was painless. Totally painless. His staff (Lily, Kim, Maria) is exceptionally friendly and welcoming, resembling a family more than a dental office.”

    - Hugues F.
  • “Great experience, patient & extremely knowledgeable doctor, supportive staff. A priceless experience. I would recommend my family to City Endodontic all the time.”

    - Philip S.
  • “Dr. Marcus Johnson was kind, patient, and incredibly professional. I was so scared of this procedure, but he kept me calm and talked me through it. Since then, my regular dentist even said that it was a beautifully done root canal.”

    - Sabra M.

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