Usually a tooth that has had a root canal will never need any further endodontic treatment. If surgery is necessary, the most common procedure is an apicoectomy. This may be necessary if infection developes around the root-end of your tooth.
In an apicoectomy, the dentist opens the gum tissue near the tooth to see the bone and remove any inflamed or infected tissue. The very end of the root is also removed. 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.
Other surgeries your dentist might perform include dividing a tooth in half or even removing one or more roots. Your dentist will be happy to discuss the specific type of surgery your tooth requires.
Unfortunately, extraction may be the only solutions in some cases. In those cases it is very important that the tooth be replaced with an implant or bridge to maintain proper alignment and chewing function.
No matter how effective artificial tooth replacements are, 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.
