What is Apical Root Resection?

Is it possible to save teeth that have failed root canal treatment from extraction?

What is Apical Root Resection?

Apical root resection is a surgical procedure that involves removing a specific portion of the root tip and the infected tissue surrounding the root of teeth that cannot be saved with root canal treatment alone. Apical root resection is a treatment approach that is used to keep teeth in the mouth for which root canal treatment alone is inadequate and has the potential to prevent tooth extraction.

On Which Teeth Can Apical Root Resection Be Applied?

-In teeth with cysts at the root tip,

– In teeth where the infection in the root canal has spread to the surrounding tissues and a stubborn infection occurs in the surrounding tissues that cannot be resolved with 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 during previous root canal treatment,

– Teeth that had a root canal filling that was longer than it should have been during previous root canal treatment,

Your teeth can be saved from extraction by performing apical root resection.

Is There Pain During Apical Root Resection?

Since the relevant area will be completely anesthetized, there will be no pain during the procedure.

How is Apical Root Resection Performed?

A local anesthetic is applied to numb the area of ​​the tooth in question. Then, the gum and bone tissue on the tooth to be resected are removed and approximately 3 mm of the tip of the tooth root is cut and removed. In addition, infected tissues and pathological tissues such as cysts around the root are also removed at this stage. Then, a cavity approximately 3 mm deep is created at the tip of the root and this cavity is filled using a material compatible with the surrounding tissues. In this way, a barrier is created between the root canal filling and the surrounding tissues, preventing the tooth from becoming infected again. After this procedure, the surgical area is closed and stitched. The 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 to the tooth to be treated.

Will There Be Pain or Swelling After Apical Root Resection?

Although not always, pain and swelling may occur in the surrounding tissues following apical root resection. This usually returns to normal within 4-7 days.  The use of non-prescription painkillers is sufficient for the pain that occurs after the procedure.

Is It Necessary to Use Antibiotics After Apical Root Resection?

There is no need to routinely prescribe antibiotics after apical root resection.