Healing After an Apicoectomy

I had an apicoectomy. Previously, the tooth had both a root canal treatment and a dental crown. I had a check up this morning. The bone appears to be growing back. The X-ray looked clear with one exception. There was a small pus sac that indicates there is still some residual infection. They did give me some antibiotics for this. However, I’m wondering if there is anything else I should be doing to help this situation? I really need this procedure to succeed.

Constance

Dear Constance,

Thank you for writing. For the benefit of those who may not know what an apicoectomy is, this is a surgical procedure which can be done after a root canal treatment fails. In the procedure, the tip of the tooth root is removed.

For the procedure to be successful, the dead tissue from the tooth will need to be removed and there will need to be a good seal at the end of the root of the tooth. If this is done, the tooth will heal and any residual infection will eventually go away.

The fact that the bone surrounding the tooth is healing tells me that the procedure was successful and the infection will eventually heal. Taking the antibiotics will aid that and may help speed up the process. Though, they should not be necessary. Taking them won’t hurt anything either.

I hope that helps you have some peace of mind.
This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Endodontist Dr. Scott Janse.
Afraid of dental care? Click here to learn about sedation dentistry.