East Side Dental Specialists
315-637-3930
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  • Oral Surgery Patient Information
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      • General Information
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    • Pediatric Patients - Special Note
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      • Dialogue
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      • Instructions For Patients Wishing IV Sedation Or Nitrous Oxide
      • After Extractions
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  • Endodontic Patient Information
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      • Instructions for Relief of Abscess
      • Instructions If You Have Difficulty Opening Your Mouth
      • Instructions for the Treatment of a Hematoma
    • CT Scan & Digital Films
    • Scientific Explanation
      • Non-Surgical Endodontic Treatment
      • Endodontic Retreatment
      • Cracked Teeth
      • Endodontic Surgery
      • Traumatic Dental Injuries
    • Interactive Overview of Root Canal Treatment
    • A few Teeth Treated by Dr. Katsarsky
    • Some Interesting CBCT Findings
    • Links of Interest
  • Referring Doctors
    • Endodontic Referrals
      • General Information
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      • A few Cases Treated by Dr. Katsarsky
      • Some Interesting CBCT Findings
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Scientific Explanation

  • Non-Surgical Treatment
    • What is Endodontic Treatment?
    • Who Performs Endodontic Teatment?
    • Why Would I Need an Endodontic Procedure?
    • What Are the Signs of Needing Endodontic Treatment?
    • How Does Endodontic Treatment Save the Tooth?
    • Will I Feel Pain During or After the Procedure?
    • Will the Tooth Need Any Care After Treatment?
    • What Causes Treated Teeth to Require Additional Treatment?
    • Can all Teeth be Treated?
  • Endodontic Retreatment
    • Why Would I Need Another Endodontic Procedure?
    • What Will Happen During Retreatment?
    • Is Retreatment the Best Choice for me?
    • Alternatives to Retreatment
    • Alternatives to Retreatment and Surgical Treatment
  • Cracked Teeth
  • Endodontic Surgery
  • Traumatic Dental Injuries

Endodontic Surgery

Why would I need endodontic surgery?

  • Surgery can help save your tooth in a variety of situations.
  • Surgery may be used in diagnosis. If you have persistent symptoms but no problems appear on your x-ray, your tooth may have a tiny fracture or canal that could not be detected during nonsurgical treatment. In such a case, surgery allows the surgeon to examine the entire root of your tooth, find the problem, and provide treatment.
  • Sometimes calcium deposits make a canal too narrow for the instruments used in nonsurgical root canal treatment to reach the end of the root. If your tooth has this “calcification,” then endodontic surgery may be needed to clean and seal the remainder of the canal.
  • Usually, a tooth that has undergone a root canal can last the rest of your life and never need further endodontic treatment. However, in a few cases, a tooth may not heal or may become infected. A tooth may become painful or diseased months or even years after successful treatment. If this is true for you, surgery may help save your tooth.
  • Surgery may also be performed to treat damaged root surfaces or surrounding bone.
    Although there are many surgical procedures that can be performed to save a tooth, the most common is called apicoectomy or root-end resection. When inflammation or infection persists in the bony area around the end of your tooth after a root canal procedure, we may have to perform an apicoectomy.

Surgical Endodontic Treatment Illustration

What is an apicoectomy?

In this procedure, the surgeon opens the gum tissue near the tooth to see the underlying bone and to remove any inflamed or infected tissue. The very end of the root is also removed.

Surgical Endodontic Treatment Illustration

A small filling may be placed in the root to seal the end of the root canal, and a few stitches or sutures are placed in the gingiva to help the tissue heal properly.

Surgical Endodontic Treatment Illustration

Over a period of months, the bone heals around the end of the root.

Surgical Endodontic Treatment Illustration

Are there other types of endodontic surgery?

Other surgeries include dividing a tooth in half, repairing an injured root, or even removing one or more roots. Your endodontist will be happy to discuss the specific type of surgery your tooth requires.

In certain cases, a procedure called intentional replantation may be performed. In this procedure, a tooth is extracted, treated with an endodontic procedure while it is out of the mouth, and then replaced in its socket.

These procedures are designed to help you save your tooth.

Will the procedure hurt?

Local anesthetics make the procedure comfortable. Of course, you may feel some discomfort or experience slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. Your surgeon will recommend appropriate pain medication to alleviate your discomfort.

Your surgeon will give you specific postoperative instructions to follow. If you have questions after your procedure, or if you have pain that does not respond to medication, call your surgeon.

Can I drive myself home?

Often you can, but you should ask your surgeon before your appointment so that you can make transportation arrangements if necessary.

When can I return to my normal activities?

Most patients return to work or other routine activities the next day. Your surgeon will be happy to discuss your expected recovery time with you.

How do I know the surgery will be successful?

Your dentist or endodontist is suggesting endodontic surgery because he or she believes it is the best option for saving your own natural tooth. Of course, there are no guarantees with any surgical procedure. Your endodontist will discuss your chances for success so that you can make an informed decision.

What are the alternatives to endodontic surgery?

Often, the only alternative to surgery is extraction of the tooth. The extracted tooth must then be replaced with an implant, bridge, or removable partial denture to restore chewing function and to prevent adjacent teeth from shifting. Because these alternatives require surgery or dental procedures on adjacent healthy teeth, endodontic surgery is usually the most biologic and cost-effective option for maintaining your oral health.

No matter how effective modern artificial tooth replacements are—and they can be very effective—nothing is as good as a natural tooth. You’ve already made an investment in saving your tooth. The pay-off for choosing endodontic surgery could be a healthy, functioning natural tooth for the rest of your life.

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7201 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville, NY 13066
315-637-3930

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