Apicectomy is a treatment of last resort. An infection has occurred at the tip of the root of one of your teeth. Sometimes this does not cause any symptoms but usually people are aware of discomfort and occasional episodes of swelling, gum boils or a bad taste in the mouth.
Why do I need treatment?
If left untreated the infection will develop into a chronic abscess or cyst.As well as causing pain this can lead to loss of bone surrounding theroot. As a result, the tooth will become loose.The surgical treatment of infections at the tip of the root is called anapicectomy.
What does treatment involve?
This involves cleaning out the infection from the bone, removing a small portion of the tip of the root of the tooth and then sealing the root end with a small filling. It is necessary to make a cut in the gum over the root of the tooth or around the gum margin of several teeth. The gum is then lifted from bone. The area of infection is accessed by removing a small amount of bone over it with a drill. Any infected tissue is thoroughly cleaned away from the tip of the root before removing some of the root tip. The root end is then sealed with a small filling. The gum is then stitched back into place with dissolvable stitches that take around two weeks to disappear.
What can I expect after the operation?
When the local anaesthetic wears off a few hours after surgery there will be some discomfort. Your dentist will discuss painkillers with you. Antibiotics are not usually needed. The discomfort should ease after a few days but may take a couple of weeks to completely resolve. You may require a day or two off work during which time you should avoid strenuous exercise.
Which teeth can have an apicectomy?
Theoretically, any tooth can have an apicectomy performed on it. However, realistically it is only routinely considered on the upper front five teeth (Incisor to premolar), the outermost and most forward of the roots of the upper molar and the lower front three teeth (incisor to canine). Operating on any other teeth runs the risk of permanently damaging sensory nerves that give sensation to lips, cheeks, and gum; or having to reduce the length of the root so much that the tooth left is too mobile to be comfortable for eating with.
What are the chances of success?
The success rate for apicectomies is usually around 70-80%. This does vary depending on which tooth is being treated and what previous treatment has been carried out on the tooth.
What are the benefits of an apicectomy?
An apicectomy reduces the risk of infection spreading – By removing the infection you can prevent further damage to your oral health.
An apicectomy reduces discomfort – you will not experience any discomfort when talking, eating, or drinking.
An apicectomy saves the tooth – There is no need for the infected tooth to be completed extracted