An Overview
Endodontic surgery can help save your tooth in a variety of situations. It’s used for diagnosis of tiny fractures or canals that may have gone undetected in nonsurgical treatment. If calcium deposits have narrowed a canal, we can clean them with surgery. It may be performed to treat damaged root surfaces or surrounding bone.

The most common surgical procedure is called an apicoectomy or “root-end resection.” In this procedure, we open the gum tissue to expose the bone and then remove the infected tissue. We also remove the end of the root and may place a small filling there to seal the root canal.

When can I return to my normal activities?
Most patients return to work or other routine activities the next day. We will discuss your expected recovery time with you.

Are there alternatives to endodontic surgery?
Generally, extraction of the tooth is the only alternative. The extracted tooth must then be replaced with an implant, bridge, or removable partial denture to restore function and to prevent teeth from shifting. Because extraction can necessitate surgery or dental procedures on adjacent healthy teeth, endodontic surgery is usually the most cost-effective option to maintain oral health.
It’s important to remember that nothing is as good as a natural tooth—no matter how effective modern artificial tooth replacements are. Having endodontic surgery can mean having a healthy, functioning natural tooth for the rest of your life.