When an infection develops in a tooth, this can mean you need a root canal. But in some cases, the infection could occur at the end of the tooth root. Which means you need more than a root canal procedure, you may need an apicoectomy, also known as a root-end resection. At Root Canal Specialists of Baton Rouge, LA, our team can conduct a safe and gentle root canal surgery.
The Warning Signs of Infection
How do you know if the tooth is infected? An infection means that harmful oral bacteria have reached the pulp at the center of the tooth, or in the root canals themselves. This could often occur when a cavity forms and remains untreated, growing in severity and spreading through the tooth. But you could also develop one as a result of an injury to the tooth or teeth grinding. You typically encounter tooth sensitivity and pain when you bite down or chew. Toothaches that don’t pass after a day or two are cause for concern, as is swelling, aches in the face and jaw, and a discharge for the tooth. When these potential symptoms arise, please see our team right away!
Planning Your Treatment
We will begin with digital x-ray images, so we can see the position of the infection and then plan treatment in detail. If we find this at the tip of a tooth root, then we may need to conduct a root-end resection to treat it and prevent further infection or tooth loss. Our team wants to plan the process in detail so we avoid blood vessels, nerve tissues, and sinus cavities. To keep you comfortable during the surgery, we will not only administer a local anesthetic to the area where we will be treating the infection, but we can also offer sedation. With sedation, even those with dental anxiety can enter a deep state of calm and relaxation.
The Apicoectomy Procedure
Once you are comfortable, our team will open the gums near the infected root, so we can reach it. Next, we will remove the very tip of it to access and extract the tissues from within. We then place a filling to seal the end of the canal. Our team then sutures the gums closed, and will monitor the area in a follow-up visit. If you have any questions about root canal surgery, then contact our team today.
Learn More About Our Endodontic Surgery
Our team wants to help you enjoy better comfort and oral health again. To find out more about how we save your tooth, then speak with our team at Root Canal Specialists of Baton Rouge at (225) 766-3061, at one of our locations in both Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, LA!