A root canal and apicoectomy are the two endodontic procedures that can save a tooth. Between the two surgeries, the root canal is the more common one. One will only get an apicoectomy if a root canal fails. If you want to know the difference between a root canal and an apicoectomy, here are the facts.
This procedure can restore a damaged tooth. Once the damage reaches the pulp of the tooth, infection will start to invade the tooth. Tooth decay and accidents are primary causes of pulp infection. If the structure of the tooth is still intact, the endodontist will perform a root canal. The endodontist will numb the area first with a local anesthetic.
Then, the endodontist will drill a small access hole in the center or the affected tooth. The endodontist will start to clean out the infected pulp with a special dental tool. Disinfection of the dental space will follow. Then, the endodontist will fill the tooth with gutta-percha. This filling material will also seal the access hole. If it is necessary, the endodontist will place a dental crown over the tooth to protect and strengthen it.
It is rare for the infection to persist after the root canal. If this happens, the endodontist will perform another root canal procedure. In other cases, hard deposits of calcium can fill the pulp cavity. This makes it challenging for root canal tools to reach the canals from the surface of the tooth.
This procedure is for infections on the tooth root. Before the procedure, the endodontist needs to take the complete medical history of the patient. A physical exam follows. The endodontist needs to pay attention to the medications or recent face or sinus infections. Once the procedure is set, the patient must take antibiotics, drying agents, and anti-inflammatories before going to the clinic.
The endodontist will numb the area first with a local anesthetic. Then, the endodontist will access the infection by first incising the gum tissue next to the toot. The access point may be from the bottom or from the side. An operating microscope can help view and extract the infected tissue. To reach the tooth root, the endodontist must push aside some gum tissue.
The endodontist needs to take a few millimeters from the tip. Filling the tip with biocompatible material will come next. This will seal the root. The endodontist will stitch the gum tissue back. An apicoectomy can last for half an hour to one and a half hours, depending on the complexity of the case.
After the apicoectomy, the patient can return to work the following day. Complete healing will take about two weeks. New bone will grow back around the treated tooth after several months. After three to five days, the patient must go back to the clinic for suture removal. This will take about five to 10 minutes.
The first solution to an infected pulp is a root canal procedure. If this procedure fails then it is up to the apicoectomy procedure to save your tooth. These treatments may have different access points, but they both aim to remove the infected tissue in and around the tooth. Seeing an endodontist can determine which procedure can help restore the damaged tooth.
Request an appointment here: https://omaha.advancedendotherapy.com or call Advanced Endodontic Therapy at (402) 506-7111 for an appointment in our Omaha office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Apicoectomy in Omaha, NE.
Many people are apprehensive about visiting the endodontist for treatment. This is reasonable because most people know what happens when they visit the dentist, but they do not often see the endodontist, which is enough to cause anxiety. It is also not helpful that there are so many myths surrounding endodontic therapy.The endodontist can make…
Going to see the endodontist may cause you to feel some anxiety and nervousness. This is normal, as many people are apprehensive about going to the dentist’s office. But you can take comfort to know that this dental professional has the knowledge and training to treat serious tooth pain. This includes chipped teeth. There are…
Understanding a pulpectomy provides peace of mind for children facing the stress of a severe toothache or a deep internal infection that threatens a natural tooth. This specialized endodontic procedure focuses on removing diseased tissue from the inner chambers of a tooth to stop the spread of bacteria and alleviate persistent pain. By choosing to…
An endodontist can help to diagnose and treat tooth pain. Toothaches are your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong in your mouth. A minor toothache that goes away on its own is not something to be concerned about, but a toothache that keeps coming back is a clear sign a trip to…