Nothing is as good as
your natural tooth!
"I want to thank you both for being so kind and good to me. My tooth feels just fine!
I think of both of you often and will return."
~Janice E
We use modern
techniques designed
for patient comfort.
"Your office is absolutely beautiful - especially the music. All my visits were relaxing and painless!"
~Anne P
Voted Top Dentists in
Hartford area by
Dental peers
- Hartford Magazine -
"I just want to thank you for your patience, kindness and understanding as you worked on my tooth. I never thought I could ever say that having a ‘root canal’ truly was not so bad! "
~Victoria S
Endodontic Surgery
Why would I need endodontic surgery?
Surgery can help save your tooth in a variety of situations.
Surgery may be used in diagnosis. If you have persistent symptoms but no problems appear on your x-ray, your tooth may have a tiny fracture or canal that could not be detected during nonsurgical treatment. In such a case, surgery allows your endodontist to examine the entire root of your tooth, find the problem, and provide treatment.
Sometimes calcium deposits make a canal too narrow for the instruments used in nonsurgical root canal treatment to reach the end of the root. If your tooth has this “calcification,” your endodontist may perform endodontic surgery to clean and seal the remainder of the canal.
Usually, a tooth that has undergone a root canal can last the rest of your life and never need further endodontic treatment. However, in a few cases, a tooth may not heal or become infected. A tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. If this is true for you, surgery may help save your tooth.
Surgery may also be performed to treat damaged root surfaces or surrounding bone.
Although
there are many surgical procedures that can be performed to save a
tooth, the most common is called apicoectomy or root-end resection. When
inflammation or infection persists in the bony area around the end of
your tooth after a root canal procedure, your endodontist may have to
perform an apicoectomy.
What is an Apicoectomy?
In
this procedure, we will open the gum tissue near the tooth to see the
underlying bone and to remove any inflamed or infected tissue. The very
end of the root will also be removed in most cases.
A small filling may be placed in the root to seal the end of the root canal, and a few stitches or sutures are placed in the gingiva to help the tissue heal properly.
Over
a period of months, the bone heals around the end of the root.
Are there other types of endodontic surgery?
Other surgeries we might perform include repairing an injured root or removing one or more roots. These procedures are designed to help you save your tooth.
Will the procedure hurt?
Local anesthetics make the procedure comfortable. You may feel some discomfort or experience slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. We will prescribe appropriate pain medication to alleviate your discomfort.
You will receive you specific postoperative instructions to follow. If you have questions after your procedure, or if you have pain that does not respond to medication, call our office right away.
Can I drive myself home?
Often you can, but under certain circumstances it might be better if someone drives you. We will discuss this before your appointment so that you can make transportation arrangements if necessary.
When can I return to my normal activities?
Most patients return to work or other routine activities the next day.
Does insurance cover endodontic surgery?
Each insurance plan is different. Check with your employer or insurance company prior to treatment. Our staff will check your insurance coverage, explain it to you and inform you of what your expected portion will be.
What are the alternatives to endodontic surgery?
Often, the only alternative to surgery is extraction of the tooth. The extracted tooth should then be replaced with an implant, bridge, or removable partial denture to restore chewing function and to prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. Because these alternatives require surgery or dental procedures on adjacent healthy teeth, endodontic surgery is usually the most biologic and cost-effective option for maintaining your oral health.
No matter how effective modern artificial tooth replacements are—and they can be very effective—nothing is as good as a natural tooth. You’ve already made an investment in saving your tooth. The pay-off for choosing endodontic surgery could be a healthy, functioning natural tooth for the rest of your life.
Information contained on this page courtesy of American Association of Endodontists
