An apicoectomy is a removal of the very tip, or apex, of a tooth’s root. Also known as “root end surgery”, this procedure may be necessary if you have a persistent infection, pain, or swelling after having root canal therapy. If an apicoectomy is recommended by your endodontic specialist, this means that your tooth cannot be saved through a root canal or other endodontic procedure. The purpose of an apicoectomy is to preserve your natural tooth by removing the tip of the root.

Beyond this procedure, the next option is to remove the tooth. Because a tooth extraction can harm nearby teeth that are healthy, it is usually the last procedure your endodontist will recommend.