Loudoun Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery has been providing high-quality surgical care, including endodontic surgery for many years now. When a tooth has damage to the nerve and blood supply (the pulp), either from decay or trauma, root canal treatment is often necessary to save the tooth. Root canal treatment (endodontics) is either performed by your general dentist, or in more complex cases by an endodontist, who specializes in root canals.
Apicoectomy/Root-End Resection
Unfortunately, there are occasions when a root canal procedure doesn’t heal the injured tooth. There may small canals that aren’t filled and sealed adequately which can allow infection to persist or recur. These are the types of cases where apicoectomy, or root-end resection, can solve the problem, and allow the tooth to be saved. The procedure involves making an incision in the gum in order to access the end of the root. The end of the root is removed and micro root-end instruments are used to seal the end of the root. The gum is then sutured closed, and the bone will fill in around the sealed root end over time.
Recovery
You can expect some mild facial swelling for a few days after the procedure. Discomfort is typically mild and managed with ibuprofen and Tylenol. Most patients are feeling back to normal after a week.
If you would like to learn more about endodontic surgery in Ashburn or Leesburg, Virginia, we welcome you to call Loudoun Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery to schedule a consultation with Drs. Bluhm, Dorsch or Vandervort. We look forward to helping you with all of your oral surgery needs for a healthy, attractive smile!