IS IT POSSIBLE TO TREAT ROOT TIP LESIONS THAT DO NOT HEAL DESPITE ROOT CANAL TREATMENT?

It is seen that some teeth with root tip lesions do not heal despite treatment.

These teeth are

1. Cystic teeth
2. Stubborn infected teeth
3. Teeth with excessively curved canals
4. Blocked root canals
5. Teeth with broken instruments in the canal during root canal treatment need apical resection to restore their health.

Apical root resection is a successful treatment approach to save these teeth from extraction where root canal treatment is inadequate or unsuccessful.

WHAT IS APICAL ROOT RESECTION?

Apical root resection is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a certain part of the root tip and the infected tissue around the root of teeth that cannot be saved by root canal treatment alone. Apical root resection is a treatment approach applied to keep teeth in the mouth where root canal treatment alone is insufficient and has the potential to prevent tooth extraction.

IN WHICH TEETH CAN APICAL ROOT RESECTION BE PERFORMED?

• Teeth with cysts at the root tip,
• In teeth where the infection in the root canal has spread to the surrounding tissues and there is a stubborn infection in the surrounding tissues that cannot be solved by root canal treatment alone,
• In teeth where the entire root cannot be reached with root canal treatment,
• In teeth where the root canal instrument was broken in the root during previous root canal treatment,
• In teeth that have been filled with root canal filling longer than they should have been during previous root canal treatment, your teeth can be saved from extraction by applying apical root resection.

IS THERE PAIN DURING APICAL ROOT RESECTION?

Since the relevant area will be completely numbed, there is no pain during the procedure. Local anesthesia applied to the tooth during this procedure will be sufficient. However, if our patient has a phobia about surgery, a calming application can be made before starting the operation by consulting your physician beforehand.

HOW IS APICAL ROOT RESECTION PERFORMED?

The relevant tooth area is numbed by applying a local anesthetic. For patients with needle phobia, topical anesthesia can also be applied to the area beforehand.

After the full effect of anesthesia is observed, the gum and bone tissue on the tooth to be root resected is removed. Approximately 3 mm tip of the tooth root is cut and removed. In addition, infected tissues around the root and pathologic tissues such as cysts are also removed at this stage. Then, a cavity about 3 mm deep is created at the tip of the root and this cavity is filled using a material compatible with the surrounding tissues. Thus, a barrier is created between the canal filling in the root and the surrounding tissues, preventing the tooth from becoming re-infected. After this procedure, the surgical area is closed and sutured. Stitches are removed 2 to 7 days after the procedure.

HOW LONG DOES THE APICAL ROOT RESECTION PROCEDURE TAKE?

Apical root resection is a procedure that takes approximately 45-90 minutes depending on the ease of surgical access in the mouth of the tooth to be treated. Our patients do not feel any pain during this procedure.

IS THERE ANY PAIN OR SWELLING AFTER APICAL ROOT RESECTION?

Although not always, pain and swelling may occur in the surrounding tissues after apical root resection. This condition usually returns to normal within 4-7 days.  The use of over-the-counter painkillers is sufficient for post-procedure pain. Ozone therapy is applied to the existing area to reduce pain and heal the wound.

After the ozone therapy application, if necessary, our patient is invited to our clinic the next day for both ozone and suture control.

IS IT NECESSARY TO USE ANTIBIOTICS AFTER APICAL ROOT RESECTION?

After apical root resection, your physician will prescribe you a painkiller and antibiotic if deemed appropriate. You should use the antibiotic regularly and apply the ice application that will be given to you completely.