An Apicoectomy, or Root-End Resection, is the removal
of the root tip and the surrounding infected tissue
of an abscessed tooth. This procedure may be necessary
when inflammation and infection persists in the area
around the root tip after root
canal therapy or root canal
retreatment.
Step one:
After the tooth is "numbed", the
gum is reflected (lifted) to uncover the underlying
bone and the
root end of the tooth. The root-end is resected (removed)
with all
the surrounding infected tissue.
Step two:
A root-end filling is placed to seal the end of the root
canal, the gum is repositioned, and a few dissolvable
sutures (stitches) are placed to hold the gum tissue back
in its place until healing occurs.
Step three:
After a few months, the bone around the root-end has
healed, and all symptoms are gone.
