It often takes a very severe blow to the face to crack a tooth. This level of force often damages the internal structures of the tooth, including the dentin, pulp, and root. In order to treat the problem, our All Stahr Dental PSC endodontist will often advocate having a root canal performed. This standard treatment removes the damaged tissues and structures and replaces them with a firm, rubbery material known as gutta-percha.
A crown is then cemented in place with the intention that it will fully restore the tooth for a long time to come.
There are, however, a few rare occasions when a cracked tooth results in some undetected microscopic damage to parts of the bone that are anchoring the tooth in place. In time, this can result in pain, infection, inflammation or other complications.
If you have a tooth that’s recently been repaired by a root canal but still gives you discomfort, you might need an apicoectomy to remove the damaged tissues. This treatment involves resecting a small area of the gums and then extracting the damaged tissues or bone material.
Dr. Gregory Stahr will then apply a filling to the area to replace the pertinent structure and will then suture the gums.
If you are experiencing issues with your root canal, you should call All Stahr Dental PSC at 859.278.9391 to see if you are a good candidate for an apicoectomy in Lexington, Kentucky.