Services
ENDODONTIC SURGERY
Endodontic surgery can be helpful in a variety of situations, some of which are:
- Diagnosis — When problems persist with a tooth, surgery will allow our doctors to examine the root in order to diagnose the problem and deliver the needed treatment
- Canal obstructions — Surgery can allow treatment of a tooth which has received previous root canal therapy but cannot receive non-surgical retreatment due to canal obstructions. In these cases, the root is treated from the end and the obstruction is bypassed.
- Root or bone damage — Surgery can allow treatment of root surfaces or surrounding bone which are damaged
Microsurgical Endodontics
In some cases, you may require a microsurgical procedure to preserve your tooth. Endodontic microsurgery is a procedure in which a sophisticated operating microscope is used along with other specialized microsurgical instruments. The microscope provides increased magnification and illumination which greatly improve our diagnostic capabilities and the precision of our surgical procedures. This enhances long-term prognosis while reducing post-surgical trauma.
The most commonly performed endodontic surgery procedure is an apicoectomy. It is often referred to as endodontic microsurgery because it is performed under an operating microscope.
Apicoectomy
An apicoectomy, also called root end resection, is a surgical procedure intended to remove infection from the root tip and the surrounding tissue. It is necessary when infection and inflammation persist after endodontic (root canal) therapy or endodontic retreatment therapy.
In this procedure, the gum tissue near the tooth is opened so that the doctor can see the underlying bone and remove inflamed and infected tissue. The end of the root tip is also removed. A root-end filling is then placed and the gum is sutured. As long as the area remains free of infection and inflammation, the bone will heal naturally around the root.
Hemisection*
In this procedure, one half of a tooth is removed. The remaining half is restored as a one-rooted tooth. To provide additional support and stability, this tooth is usually anchored or attached to an adjacent tooth.
Root Amputation*
Root amputation is performed to remove one root of a multi-rooted tooth.
* Both Hemisection and Root Amputation are employed when just one root of a significantly necessary tooth exhibits persistent failure or if there is a great deal of bone loss around an individual root caused by periodontal (gum) disease. These two procedures are now often done to promote bone healing for placement of a dental implant when the natural tooth cannot be returned to full health or function.