You may need this treatment is you are experiencing:
Our goal is to remove the source of infection while preserving the rest of the tooth.
An apicectomy is a minor surgical procedure that removes the tip (apex) of a tooth’s root and the surrounding infected tissue. This is typically necessary when a root canal has failed to fully remove the infection, re-treatment of the root canal is not possible or has already failed, or if a cyst or persistent abscess has formed at the root tip.
Unlike a root canal, which is performed from the visible portion of the tooth, an apicectomy is performed by accessing the tip of the root from the gum side, making it a type of endodontic microsurgery.
An apicectomy is performed under local anaesthetic, with IV sedation available for anxious patients. During your consultation, we’ll assess your tooth and ensure an apicectomy is the right treatment for you.
We’ll make a small incision in your gum near the affected tooth to expose the root. The tip of the root and the surrounding infected tissues are carefully removed.
We’ll clean the end of the root canal and seal it to prevent further infection. To finish, we’ll suture (stitch) the area, and healing begins. The entire procedure typically takes around 45-60 minutes.
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In many cases, yes – an apicectomy is a highly successful procedure that allows patients to keep teeth that might otherwise need to be extracted. Success rates are typically over 85%, depending on the location of the tooth and the extent of the infection.
