Home
Meet the Staff
Cosmetic Dentistry
Teeth Whitening
TMJ / TMD
Healthy Gums
Conditions
Procedures
Map / Hours
Patient Information
Contact Us
Ask the Dentist

Apicoectomy

abscessWhat is an Apicoectomy?

An Apicoectomy, or Root-End Resection, is the removal of the root tip and the surrounding infected tissue of an abscessed tooth. This procedure may be necessary when inflammation and infection persists in the area around the root tip after root canal therapy or root canal retreatment.

 


resectionStep one:

After the tooth is "numbed", the
gum is reflected (lifted) to uncover the underlying bone and the
root end of the tooth. The root-end is resected (removed) with all
the surrounding infected tissue.

 

Back to Top


post-opStep two:

A root-end filling is placed to seal the end of the root canal, the gum is repositioned, and a few dissolvable sutures (stitches) are placed to hold the gum tissue back in its place until healing occurs.

 

Back to Top


healed boneStep three:

After a few months, the bone around the root-end has healed, and all symptoms are gone.

 

 

 

 

Back to Top

Home | Meet the Staff | Cosmetic Dentistry | Bleaching/Whitening | TMJ / TMD
Healthy Gums | Conditions | Procedures | Map and Hours | Patient Information
Contact Us |Ask the Dentist

© Copyright 2003-2006 Dental WebSmith, Inc. and R. Thomas Bayley, III, DMD, P.C. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The information provided within is intended to help you better understand dental conditions and procedures. It is not meant to serve as delivery of medical or dental care. If you have specific questions or concerns, contact your health care provider.

Privacy Policy