Why Might You Require Endodontic Surgery?
Endodontic surgery may be necessary for a variety of reasons. On occasion, a diseased tooth that has had non-surgical endodontic treatment may fail to heal. The tooth may spontaneously become painful or infected, years after successful treatment. The tooth may experience complications due to damage to bone or tooth structure, or if one of more of the root canals could not be successfully cleaned without a surgical approach. In any of these cases, the Endodontist will need to perform a follow-up surgery to clean and seal the remainder of the canal(s).
What's Involved in a Surgical Root Canal Procedure?
After the administration of local anesthetic, the Endodontist creates an access through the gums in order to visualize the underlying bone. By assessing the area surrounding the tip of the root, infected tissue can be identified and removed.
The tip of the root is then trimmed and a space is created using precise ultrasonic instruments. The root end is then filled and the gums carefully structured in place to maximize tissue healing. Over time – which can be months to years – the area around the root tip will heal with bone.
