What is an apicoectomy?

An apicoectomy is a surgical option when root canal treatment fails. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the infection at the tip of the root of a treated tooth. The procedure requires drilling a hole on the side of the jawbone at the tip of the root of the re-infected tooth. A small portion of the root tip is removed and a filling is placed on the root tip to seal the canal to prevent bacteria from re-infecting the jawbone. The success rate of this procedure varies.