Why Would I Need Root Canal Surgery?
Generally, root canal retreatment is all that is needed to save teeth with persistent symptoms or infections after initial root canal therapy. Occasionally, retreatment does not have a favorable outcome and Dr Heyse will recommend surgery. Endodontic surgery can be used to locate fractures or hidden canals that do not appear on x-rays but still manifest pain in the tooth. Damaged root surfaces or infections in the surrounding bone may also be treated with this procedure. The most common surgery used to save damaged teeth is an apicoectomy or root-end resection.
An apicoectomy is a microsurgical procedure that removes the tip (apex) of the tooth's root. The procedure involves careful numbing to ensure the patient is comfortable. Next, a small opening is made in the gum tissue to expose the apex of the root which is removed along with any infection that surrounds the root. Usually, a filling is placed in the end of the root to seal the root canal space. Some infections dissolve the surrounding healthy bone around a tooth and in order to encourage more predictable healing Dr Heyse may recommend a bone graft. Once the surgery is complete Dr. Heyse will place sutures (stitches) so that the area heals with little to no scarring or change to the original gum tissue.