Endodontic Surgery

Endodontic Microsurgery

Why would I need endodontic surgery?

Surgery can help save your tooth in a variety of situations.


  • Surgery may be used in determining a 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 non-surgical treatment. In such a case, surgery allows your endodontist to examine the root of your tooth, find the problem, and provide treatment.
  • Sometimes calcium deposits make a canal too narrow for the cleaning and shaping instruments used in non-surgical root canal treatment to reach the end of the root. If your tooth has this "calcification," your endodontist may perform endodontic surgery to clean and seal the remainder of the canal.
  • Surgery may also be performed to treat damaged root surfaces or surrounding bone.
  • Surgery may be needed to treat fractured or perforated teeth.
  • Surgery may be recommended due to complexity within the root canal system.
  • Surgery may be recommended due to iatrogenic obstructions within the root canal system.


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, your endodontist may have to perform an apicoectomy.

Are there other types of endodontic surgery?

Other surgeries Burroughs Endodontics might perform include dividing a tooth in half (called hemisection), repairing an injured root, or even removing one or more roots. Dr. Burroughs is always transparent and will discuss the specific type of surgery your tooth requires.


All procedures are designed to help you save your tooth.

What is an Apicoectomy?

An apicoectomy is an endodontic surgery that is necessary when your original root canal fails to remove all the dead nerves and infected tissues that lead to re-infection of your tooth. Typically, tooth pain results in the apex where a tooth's roots come together at a point.


In this procedure, our root canal specialist Dr. Burroughs, 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 or resected. A small filling may be placed to seal the end of the root canal, and a few stitches or sutures are placed in the gum to help the tissue heal properly. Over a period of months, the bone heals around the end of the root.

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Does an Apicoectomy Hurt?

Local anaesthetics make the procedure essentially painless and very comfortable. Of course, you may feel some discomfort or experience slight swelling while the surgical site heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure. Dr. Burroughs is a highly reviewed endodontic specialist in Kansas City and is known for his ability to help patients enjoy a pain free experience. He is always able to recommend appropriate pain medication if you have discomfort post-surgery.

We also encourage you to take care of yourself following your endodontic surgery with specific postoperative instructions to follow. If you have questions after your procedure, or if you have pain that does not respond to medication, call Burroughs Endodontics, we're always here for you.

Are There Alternatives to Endodontic Surgery?

If root canal treatment and retreatment have failed, and you aren't interested in an apicoectomy, the only other alternative 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 options require extensive surgery or prosthetic procedures on adjacent healthy teeth, they can be far more costly and time consuming than endodontic mircrosurgery and restoration of the natural tooth.


No matter how effective modern tooth replacements are - and they can be very effective nothing is as good as your natural tooth. You've already made an investment in saving your tooth. The payoff for choosing apicoectomy could be a healthy, functioning natural tooth for many years to come.

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT NOW!

Busy lifestyles require dynamic scheduling. Our friendly and caring support staff is here to be sure your appointment fits your busy day. Visit our Make an Appointment page to get the ball rolling. We will work with you to be sure you get the right care at the right time.
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