How Long Does Apical Dental Surgery Take?
An apicoectomy, also known as a root end surgery, is a recommended treatment for patients if a root canal treatment by itself was insufficient to clear out an oral infection. While less common than root canals, it is a safe and painless procedure that can often be completed rather quickly.
The average apical dental surgery takes between 30 to 90 minutes per tooth, depending on both the tooth’s location and the severity of the root tip infection. Interested in learning more about apical dental surgery, including when patients need one and what the surgery entails? Learn from our experienced dental team here at Rhode Island Endodontics and find out what you should know about apical dental surgery:
When do I need apical dental surgery?
In most cases, an apical dental surgery is only necessary if a standard root canal fails to clear out a tooth infection. Root canals are performed when the pulp inside your teeth is infected, which can spread into your gums. Sometimes, that infection spreads so far that even the tips of your tooth, also known as your roots, are infected.
Apical dental surgery is a procedure that involves extracting infected tissue around the tip of your tooth, along with cutting out the roots. With this procedure, dentists can prevent your inflamed tooth from infecting the rest of your mouth. Ideally, your endodontist can also save your tooth without any further treatment with a successful apical dental surgery.
What happens in apical dental surgery?
You can expect the following during a apicoectomy, or root end surgery:
- Anesthesia. Your endodontist will apply a local anesthetic to numb the area of your mouth where they will be treating your tooth.
- Gums. Your endodontist will make a very small incision in your gums in order to reach the infected roots of your tooth. With anesthesia, you should feel very little to no discomfort during this stage of the surgery.
- Extraction. The infected root tip will be cut off and extracted form your mouth. Then, your tooth will be cleaned and fitted with a small filling to prevent further infection to your tooth and mouth.
- Suture. Your endodontist will stitch up the small incision they made earlier that will encourage your gums to heal and grow tissue back where they made their cut. Natural healing will also allow your mouth to adjust to the new filling at the end of your tooth.
How long is the recovery for an apical dental surgery?
Thanks to anesthesia, you should experience little to no pain during the treatment, though as it wears off you may feel some minor pain or swelling for the rest of the day. This discomfort should disappear naturally over the next few days, and can be reduced through over-the-counter medicine and painkillers.
Depending on the type and severity of the infection, you may need to take antibiotics following treatment. Also, be careful when eating and brushing your teeth for about a week after treatment. Your mouth stitches should fall out on their own, but you may experience some oral pain or other issues if you accidentally remove them early. As such, make sure to follow your dentist’s recommended post treatment instructions.
Visit Rhode Island Endodontics for your apicoectomy
Looking for expert dental care in the Warwick, Rhode Island area? Then we invite you to pay us a visit at Rhode Island Endodontics! Our experienced staff is well versed in root canals and other endodontic treatments, and have treated thousands of patients in the area successfully in the past decade of operation. Endodontic treatment can be nerve wracking, but we do our best to make it as quick, painless, and relaxing as possible.
Contact us today if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment here at Rhode Island Endodontics!