If you’ve been told your root canal has failed or there’s a persistent infection at the tip of your tooth root, an apicoectomy may be the solution that saves your tooth from extraction.
At Emerald View Dental on Yonge Street, we perform apicoectomy (also known as root end surgery, endodontic microsurgery, and surgical root canal treatment) with precision and care, right here in North York.
(647) 945-0105
(416) 225-9777
4750 Yonge St Unit #330, Toronto, ON M2N 0J6
Monday to Friday
10:30 - 18:00
Saturday
10:30 - 16:00
(647) 945-0105
emeraldviewdental@gmail.com
An apicoectomy is a minor surgical procedure that removes the tip of a tooth root along with any infected tissue surrounding it. It is performed when a standard root canal treatment has not fully resolved the infection or when re-treatment is not possible due to the complexity of the root canal system.
During the procedure, your dentist makes a small incision in the gum tissue near the affected tooth, removes the infected root tip, and seals the end of the root with a small filling. The gum is then sutured closed and the area heals over the following weeks. Unlike a full tooth extraction, an apicoectomy allows you to keep your natural tooth in place, preserving your bite, bone structure, and long-term oral health.
In most cases, a standard root canal is all that is needed to treat an infected tooth. However, there are situations where the infection persists or the root canal cannot be fully treated through conventional methods. In these cases, an apicoectomy becomes the most effective option to save the tooth.
If you have already had a root canal but the infection has returned or never fully cleared, an apicoectomy addresses the problem directly at the source. Rather than repeating the same procedure, surgical treatment allows your dentist to clean and seal the root tip where bacteria may still be present.
Sometimes a small cyst or abscess forms at the tip of the root even after treatment. These infections do not always respond to antibiotics or conventional root canal therapy. An apicoectomy removes the infected tissue entirely, giving the surrounding bone a chance to heal.
Every tooth is different. Some teeth have a network of small connecting branches extending from the main root canal that standard instruments simply cannot reach. An apicoectomy allows your dentist to treat these areas surgically from the outside of the root.
If a previous root canal filling material, broken instrument, or calcified canal is blocking access to the full length of the root, retreatment through the crown of the tooth may not be possible. In these cases, accessing the root tip surgically is the only way to fully clear the infection.
Some tooth roots have an unusual curve or irregular shape that makes complete cleaning through the top of the tooth difficult. When the shape of the root canal prevents full instrumentation, an apicoectomy provides direct access to the area that needs treatment.
Your dentist begins by numbing the area with a local anesthetic so you feel no pain during the procedure. A small incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the root tip and the surrounding bone. The infected tissue and the very tip of the root are then carefully removed.
Once the infected tissue has been removed, the end of the root canal is cleaned and shaped. A small biocompatible filling is placed to seal the root tip and prevent bacteria from re-entering. This step is what makes an apicoectomy more effective than a repeat root canal in complex cases.
| Feature | Apicoectomy | Tooth Extraction |
|---|---|---|
| Your natural tooth | Kept in place | Permanently removed |
| Procedure type | Minor surgery | Minor surgery |
| Recovery time | 1 to 2 days | 1 to 3 days |
| Bone preservation | Bone structure maintained | Bone loss begins over time |
| Long-term cost | One-time procedure | Implant or bridge needed later |
| Bite and function | No change | May affect surrounding teeth |
| Success rate | Up to 85 to 95 percent | N/A |
| Best for | Saving a restorable tooth | Tooth that cannot be saved |
