Root canal procedures can be used to treat serious cavities or infected teeth. While many of these treatments are successful, there are times when your tooth can become re-infected, or you have recurring discomfort in the same area. When this happens, you may need to have the area retreated with an apicoectomy. In today’s blog, your team at Omni Endodontics in El Paso, TX, is here today to explain the process of this procedure so you can know what to expect.
Determining When This Procedure Is Necessary
When would you need an apicoectomy? This procedure may be recommended if a tooth that has previously had a root canal done becomes reinfected or continues to cause you discomfort. Root canal treatment (RTC) may be done to relieve an infected tooth. This type of endodontic treatment can help restore your oral health and prevent the need for a tooth extraction, which is often the last resort. While RTC is successful in many cases, if the therapy is unsuccessful, you may need to have the area retreated. It will be reopened, the old material will be removed, and the space will be cleaned and examined before adding a temporary filling. Your dentist will need to examine your oral cavity before deciding which additional treatment will be necessary.
Removing The Apex To Stop Discomfort
An apicoectomy, also referred to as a root-end section, is done to remove the end of your tooth’s root and stop the infection. This may be done if the area continues to be bothersome of cause discomfort after RTC has been done. A local anesthetic will be used so that you can remain comfortable during your procedure. A small incision will be made so that the infected tissue and root can be remove, and then the space will be filled with a strong material. The team will give you aftercare instructions to ensure the area heals properly, and you may be healed within a few days.
Your Other Endodontic Treatment Options
Our team is here to help restore your smile so you can maintain your oral health. In some cases, you may need further restorations, like a dental crown, after having these endodontic treatments done to protect your tooth. If a large amount of your dental structure was removed during other endodontic procedures, it may not be able to support a crown on its own. In these cases, a post and core buildup can be done to restrengthen your dental structure. A post can be inserted into your dental structure to help support the area, and we can use resin to rebuild a damaged tooth.
Questions About Endodontic Treatments? Ask Our Team
Omni endodontics in El Paso, TX, is here to help protect your oral health. To schedule an appointment with our team, call us today at 915.990.3636.
