Premier Dental Centre in Montreal’s West Island

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Apicoectomy

When the tooth is infected with a large cavity, it is sometimes necessary to proceed with an apicoectomy to save the tooth and maintain a healthy oral cavity. This is a procedure that is performed by the highly qualified dentists at Centre Dentaire NP, where they use precision tools and equipment such as an Apex Locator.

What is an Apicoectomy?

This is an endodontic treatment that focuses on removing a persistent infection in the apex (root-end of the tooth). This type of issue can persist after a root canal, which risks the integrity of the tooth and can cause dental pain. In order to prevent the spreading of the infection and eliminate the pain, the dentist will proceed with local anesthetics and remove the apex of the root. Following the removal, they will seal the tips to ensure that the canals will not get infected. In this manner, the tooth will be saved, and you can continue to perform your daily functions in terms of chewing and speaking.

The Procedure

  • Once the dentist uses local anesthetic, they will make an incision at the apex level of the infected tooth.
  • A small portion of the bone is removed to gain access to the apex.
  • The dentist cleans the root canal and removes the apex. The connective tissues may also be removed to clear the area of the infection entirely.
  • In order to fill the opened area, the dentist will place an apical cap that is composed of biocompatible materials.
  • The dentist will then close and stitch the area.

Tips to Promote Proper Healing

> Follow the dentist’s guidelines and take the prescribed medication to ensure that both the infection and pain is controlled
> Follow a soft food diet a week after the procedure
> Keep ice on treated area for 12 hours following the surgery to help reduce inflammation. The inflammation will go down after a few days.
> Pay close attention to the treated area when brushing your teeth.
> Avoid smoking and tobacco products

Reasons for Resorting to an Apicoectomy

1. Root canal treatment was not sufficient

Unfortunately, in some cases, an infection can persist despite root canal treatment. It’s possible that a residual infection develops and affects the root of the tooth.

2. To save the tooth

By treating the source of the infection directly and ensuring that it cannot come back, we can avoid having to remove and replace a diseased tooth.

3. To maintain a healthy oral cavity

By proceeding with this treatment, we can ensure that the tooth stays in place and continue to its day-to-day functions in a healthy manner.

4. To remove infection and treat pain

An apicoectomy removes the source of pain and limits the risk of an infection spreading. It ultimate allows for the return to normal oral day-to-day activities!