According to our Houston dentist, an apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure that’s necessary when root canal treatment hasn’t completely healed an infected tooth.  This usually happens when the pulp of the tooth has been infected for a long time or when the tooth has a large-size (greater 5 mm)  abscess.

After root canal treatment, an abscess, which is a hole in the bone at the tip of the root, sometimes continues to grow.

To stop the dental (odontogenic) infection, your Houston dentist makes a small incision in the gums. He removes the infection by curetting out the abscess sac, cuts off the tip of the root (which is usually fully infected) and then seals the tip of the root.

Once this has been done, the infection will heal, new bone will grow in, and the tooth will be healthy again.