Still having pain or infection after a root canal? Learn how apicoectomy, a minor root-end surgery, can save your tooth instead of removing it.
Root canal treatment has a high success rate, but occasionally infection remains or returns at the tip of the root. Before considering extraction, there's often another way to save the tooth: an apicoectomy.
Signs a Root Canal May Have Failed
- Pain or tenderness when biting months or years after treatment
- Swelling or a pimple on the gum near the tooth
- A bad taste or discharge
- A dark area at the root tip on an X-ray
First Option: Re-Root Canal Treatment
Often, the root canal can be redone. The old filling material is removed, the canals are cleaned again and resealed. This is called re-root canal treatment.
When Is an Apicoectomy Needed?
- When re-treatment isn't possible because of a crown, post or blocked canal
- When a curved or complex root can't be fully cleaned from inside
- When infection persists even after re-treatment
What Happens During an Apicoectomy?
- The area is numbed with local anaesthesia.
- A small opening is made in the gum over the root tip.
- The infected tissue and a few millimetres of the root tip are removed.
- The end of the root is cleaned and sealed.
- The gum is stitched back in place.
The procedure usually takes about an hour.
Recovery
Mild swelling and discomfort for a few days are normal and settle with medicines and cold compresses. Stitches are usually removed within a week, and the bone heals over the following months.
Why Save the Tooth?
Keeping your natural tooth preserves your bite and bone and avoids the cost of replacing it with an implant or bridge. If an apicoectomy isn't suitable, your dentist will discuss replacement options.
Related treatment: read more about Apicoectomy in Mohali at Urja Dental Clinic.
Book a Visit at Urja Dental Clinic, Mohali
If you have any of these concerns, book a consultation at Urja Dental Clinic, S.S.S. (Bay Shop) 74, Sector 60, Phase 3B2, Mohali. We are easy to reach from Phase 3B1, Phase 5, Phase 7, Kharar and Chandigarh. Call +91 86999 69619 or +91 78890 93147, or book online.
