Root tip surgery

Sometimes, the root tip of one of your teeth can become inflamed. This can happen if a root canal filling does not seal properly. Bacteria in the jaw can then reach the root tip and cause an inflammation, which can damage your other teeth without you noticing. The only way to remedy this inflammation is by having an oral surgeon perform an apicoectomy.

Call the assistant

Schedule an appointment

First appointment

1. If you have a letter of referral from your dentist, you can schedule an appointment with us. Please bring your referral letter, your ID and a list of any medications you take. Before your first appointment, you will also be asked to fill in a medical questionnaire at home. Typically, we will first do an X-ray and then discuss our treatment plan with you.

2. The doctor will explain what the treatment will consist of.
If necessary, they will also give you a prescription for painkillers,
a mouthwash and other medication, if needed.

3. The assistant will schedule an appointment for the treatment.

Treatment

On the day of the treatment, please report to the reception desk. The assistant will take you to the treatment room. You will be given an anaesthetic similar to that used by dentists. Please let us know if you are fearful of needles or injections, so that we can take this into account.

1. We will cover you with sterile cloths to keep the procedure as clean and hygienic as possible.
2. During the treatment, you may hear small noises. Some water may also run into your mouth; this is completely normal. If you feel any pain during the treatment, we can always give you extra anaesthetic.
3. If you wish, the assistant can talk you through what is happening during the treatment.
4. Finally, we will do another X-ray to check that the procedure has gone as planned.

Aftercare

After the treatment, the assistant will explain what you need to do:

1. Take a painkiller
2. Cool the affected area
3. Start using the provided mouthwash after 24 hours

Important:

While you can still feel the effects of the anaesthetic:
• Do not eat, and allow coffee and tea to cool down sufficiently before drinking
• Do not lift your lip to look at the wound; you may accidentally loosen the stitches
• Do not sit out in the sun
• Do not smoke
• Keep an eye on the swelling
• Brush your teeth just as you usually would
• Start brushing the stitches after a week (they will disintegrate by themselves)
• The assistant will schedule a follow-up appointment six months after the treatment. The doctor will then do another X-ray and assess whether the inflammation has completely disappeared.