Root canal treatment has a high success rate around 90%, but what happens if you are one of the few whose root canal fails? Orem endodontist Dr. Jon W. Jenson takes great care to make sure the necessary precautions are taken to increase the likelihood of root canal success. However, if your root canal fails and endodontic retreatment doesn’t solve the problem, endodontic microsurgery (apicoectomy) is often the next treatment step.
Endodontic microsurgery can be used to detect fractures or hidden canals that might be perpetuating disease and pain in your tooth. Damaged root surfaces and infected bone surrounding your roots can also be treated. One of the most commonly used forms of endodontic microsurgery is an apicoectomy, also known as a root-end resection. The following list goes through the general steps of an apicoectomy procedure:
- Anesthesia: After a consultation with Orem endodontist Dr. Jon W. Jenson where you both decide that an apicoectomy procedure is best, you will receive anesthesia to help mask any pain that might occur during the procedure.
- Root Tip Removal: Dr. Jon W. Jenson will make an incision in the gum tissue so that he can remove any damaged tissue and the end of the damaged root tip.
- Root-End Filling: A filling is placed in the root-end to prevent further infection, and the gum is sewed up (sutured).
- Healing: It may take a few months for the bone and tissue to heal around the root after an apicoectomy. In the first few days, Dr. Jon W. Jenson will likely prescribe some pain medication to help with any discomfort.
While endodontic microsurgery is much less common than root canal treatment, it is an effective way to save your tooth from extraction.
To learn more about the possibility of endodontic microsurgery, or an apicoectomy, call our Orem endodontic office today at 801-404-5810 to schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Jon W. Jenson.