When A Tooth Needs Root Canal Surgery

When a dental infection forms at the tip of a tooth root, a traditional root canal procedure may not be enough to bring relief and save your tooth. Instead, you may need a surgical procedure known as an apicoectomy. In today’s blog, your Omni Endodontics team in El Paso, TX, talks about root canal surgery and how this can stop discomfort and save your tooth!

The Signs of a Dental Infection

How do you know if a tooth is infected? The most common warning sign is discomfort. When you have pain in a tooth or sensitivity when you eat or drink, and this doesn’t pass after a day or two, you should contact our team. Likewise, you could experience pain in your face and jaw, as well as headaches or swelling near the aching tooth. Don’t ignore the pain in your smile, talk to our team. Otherwise, your tooth could be lost or even require extraction to prevent the spread of infection.

Planning Your Oral Surgery

Our team will start by gathering detailed digital x-rays and intraoral camera images of your smile. We want to assess the position and severity of your infection, so we can plan treatment with detail. Typically, the infection occurs in the interior of your tooth, so we conduct a root canal to open it and remove the tissues, replacing them with a restorative filling and capping the tooth with a crown. However, if the infection is located in the tips of the root canals, this may not be the best option. Instead, root canal surgery can be conducted to address this area and stop discomfort, saving your tooth.

The Apicoectomy

The use of advanced imaging technology, combined with anesthesia and a sedation, ensures your procedure is comfortable and effective. We will open the gums near the tooth roots so we can access the tip. We remove the infected tissues and then place a small filling at the tip of the tooth. This seals the root canal. We suture the area closed and provide instruction to ensure a complication free healing period. You can usually return to your normal routine after 24 to 48 hours. If you have any questions about how our team will conduct a root canal surgery and preserve your tooth, then contact our team today. We want to stop discomfort and help your smile stay beautiful and whole.

Learn More About Preserving Your Smile By Scheduling An Appointment

We can take on complex dental infections with oral surgery, preserving your smile and preventing the need for tooth extraction! You can schedule an appointment with us by calling 915.990.3636. Don’t ignore your persistent discomfort, reach out to our team today about possible solutions.