Apicoectomy in Nashua, NH
An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure that treats infection at the tip of a tooth's root. It can save a tooth when a root canal alone hasn't fully resolved the problem.
When an apicoectomy is needed
Most teeth heal well after root canal treatment. Occasionally, infection or inflammation lingers at the root tip. That can happen because of a tiny extra canal, a curved or blocked root, or a crown or post that makes retreatment difficult. Signs can include ongoing tenderness when biting, swelling, a pimple-like bump on the gum, or a dark area at the root tip on an X-ray. An apicoectomy lets us treat the root tip directly and keep your natural tooth.
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What happens during the procedure
After a careful exam and 3D imaging, the area is fully numbed. A small opening is made in the gum near the root tip. The inflamed or infected tissue is removed, along with the last few millimeters of the root. The end of the root canal is then cleaned and sealed with a small biocompatible filling, and the gum is closed with a few stitches. Most procedures take about 30 to 90 minutes, and sedation options are available.
Recovery and outlook
Mild swelling and soreness are normal for a few days and usually respond to over-the-counter pain relievers and cold packs. Eat soft foods and avoid chewing on that side at first. Stitches are removed or dissolve within about a week. Over the following months, the bone around the root tip heals and fills in, which we'll check on follow-up X-rays. When it's the right choice, an apicoectomy can let the tooth function for many years.
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115 Daniel Webster Hwy, Nashua. Get directions
Save a tooth that hasn't healed after a root canal.
Call (603) 484-9595 to schedule an evaluation.
115 Daniel Webster Hwy, Nashua, NH 03060
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