Thanks. So much information on a subject I know quite well :-)
Is your apicoectomy working?
I had an apioectomy on my maxillary first premolar left side on Monday this week.
My dentist took around 50 minutes to complete the procedure and stitch my gum up. I will go back next Monday for him to remove the stitches. The procedure was done under local anesthetic and was painless but the manipulations for my dentist to get to expose gums were uncomfortable / unpleasant. I had some dull pain for Tuesday and Wednesday but took ibuprofen when necessary. My left cheek was very swollen on Tuesday and Wednesday but repeated ice-pack usage help diminish that. Today, Thursday the swelling is almost gone and no more dull pain. Fingers crossed for the follow-up next week when my dentist will check the x-rays to see how he did!
My dentist took around 50 minutes to complete the procedure and stitch my gum up. I will go back next Monday for him to remove the stitches. The procedure was done under local anesthetic and was painless but the manipulations for my dentist to get to expose gums were uncomfortable / unpleasant. I had some dull pain for Tuesday and Wednesday but took ibuprofen when necessary. My left cheek was very swollen on Tuesday and Wednesday but repeated ice-pack usage help diminish that. Today, Thursday the swelling is almost gone and no more dull pain. Fingers crossed for the follow-up next week when my dentist will check the x-rays to see how he did!
Thanks a lot. I'm dealing with this dilemma now and you have convinced me to an implant.
I had an apicoectomy 18 years ago. My endodontist did an excellent job and simply told me to repeat the surgery every twenty years or so to relieve any residual discomfort. He saved the tooth and I am now considering having a second surgery 18 years later from some tenderness in the root, which he told me to expect. It was so worth it. My mouth was a little swollen for a day or two, but healed very quickly. I would never let anyone talk me into implants. Never allow anyone to pull your natural tooth! I certainly would invest in a second surgery. Get another opinion if your dentist tries to talk you into implants. Dental insurance covered almost the entire cost.
I have had it three times on the same tooth. Every time it will last about 6-7 years. The very last time I got bone graft. Now I feel it might have problem again. I am very frustrated and don't know what to do.
Thank you for sharing this. My tooth number 9 bothers me so much.. For 21 years with three apicoectomy... Maybe it's time for me to extract for implants. I am not sure what other options I have. It's especially troublesome because it's a front tooth. I feel so helpless.
But mine only lasts 7 years! I have had three apicoectomy done already. Only the last time I got bone graft. The first two times the endo just left the hole there... It's been another 7 years and now the area feels a little funny. You don't suppose I get a forth one? If not implant, what choices do I have? Any suggestions?
I have had it three times too! Each time it only lasts about 7 years. Also a front tooth. It feels funny again after 7 years. I am considering an implant now...
I've had a few up here in Canada, and had a severe bad experience at one place (who were actually part of one of the large hospitals in the city) and great success at another place (surgeon there also does varied facial reconstructions on victims). The latter, did great. I would strongly recommend, however, for anyone getting the procedure to ensure you are knocked out. It's not one you want to be wide awake for, let alone sitting back in a chair for 30 mins to three hours (depending on which tooth is being done). As well, get recommendations if you can, from people you know that have had it done. You may well have friends who've had the procedure done, good or bad, but least you'll know who had the better experiences and where they went. As another poster mentioned, even the dead tooth is better than the implant to the gums. A proper one done can, and will, last you for years. Every tooth you can save, is that much better for your overall health. Get the right surgeon, who has the best experience and best reports from those you know, and that's the one you should have perform the procedure. It is worth it.
Hey I m from india..I have been to two dentists both had different suggestions for my front tooth.when I was 7 or 8 I fell down and broke my front tooth(half) and now when I m 21 it's causing infection and swelling all round my face...the dentist has suggested me apicoectomy surgery or extraction...the general surgery is suggestion for extractions and the other one is saying surgery is a better option...I am totally confuse what should I go for now as I don't want to lose my tooth.please suggest!
Thanks for you detailed and honest assesment. It's been severely helpful.
I was so relieved to read your comments, I had a root canal filling done many years ago and shortly thereafter I got an infection and was told I needed a Apicectomy. Sadly it only lasted a few years and I needed to have another one done, both under General Anaesthetic. Regrettably about 5 years
later I got the worse infection I had ever had and I was referred to the Hospital of Dentistry (as a last resort) I was very lucky they performed the procedure for the 3rd time (under a local anaesthetic) and whilst the pain and discomfort was the worst I ever experienced and they had to leave my gum opened and the roots of my two front teeth exposed as the skin would not stretch enough for them to close it up, I was still glad I had gone through it as loosing my front tooth or teeth is just unthinkable. It was touch and go if it would work, but thankfully after many weeks of antibiotics and being careful the hole eventually covered over, but I was left with permanent nerve damage, although I was delighted not to have lost my tooth. Sadly 12 years on, I feel one of my teeth moving down, as apparently one of my roots is smaller than the other. I have been told that it is slowly dissolving and I will have to eventually look at exploring implants or a bridge, both of which I dread the very thought of. After meeting a Private Dentist to discuss the implants it also turns out that I may not be able to explore that option as my bite needs corrected, so that would be an additional cost of braces before I could even consider what options I would have for my front teeth. I have fought so hard to keep my front teeth and I now find myself having very few options to replace them, even dentures (which I would never go for) would be problematic because of my bite. As sad as I may sound this has really got me down and I find my now obsessing over loosing my front tooth, I just want to try and keep it for as long as I possibly can - so in essence I totally agree with you, your own root and bone are much better even if it is dead - reading your comments really made me feel like I am not going through this anguish alone as that is how it has felt for me this last year. I know it would be much worse if I had a serious illness to content with and how ridiculous I sound getting so hung up and depressed about my teeth, but my smile and teeth are what people see and I am too young to consider putting my teeth in a glass beside my bed!!!!!!
later I got the worse infection I had ever had and I was referred to the Hospital of Dentistry (as a last resort) I was very lucky they performed the procedure for the 3rd time (under a local anaesthetic) and whilst the pain and discomfort was the worst I ever experienced and they had to leave my gum opened and the roots of my two front teeth exposed as the skin would not stretch enough for them to close it up, I was still glad I had gone through it as loosing my front tooth or teeth is just unthinkable. It was touch and go if it would work, but thankfully after many weeks of antibiotics and being careful the hole eventually covered over, but I was left with permanent nerve damage, although I was delighted not to have lost my tooth. Sadly 12 years on, I feel one of my teeth moving down, as apparently one of my roots is smaller than the other. I have been told that it is slowly dissolving and I will have to eventually look at exploring implants or a bridge, both of which I dread the very thought of. After meeting a Private Dentist to discuss the implants it also turns out that I may not be able to explore that option as my bite needs corrected, so that would be an additional cost of braces before I could even consider what options I would have for my front teeth. I have fought so hard to keep my front teeth and I now find myself having very few options to replace them, even dentures (which I would never go for) would be problematic because of my bite. As sad as I may sound this has really got me down and I find my now obsessing over loosing my front tooth, I just want to try and keep it for as long as I possibly can - so in essence I totally agree with you, your own root and bone are much better even if it is dead - reading your comments really made me feel like I am not going through this anguish alone as that is how it has felt for me this last year. I know it would be much worse if I had a serious illness to content with and how ridiculous I sound getting so hung up and depressed about my teeth, but my smile and teeth are what people see and I am too young to consider putting my teeth in a glass beside my bed!!!!!!
Will the dark shadow disappear on my xray or is it scar tissue? Getting diff opinions
An extensive study:
Comparison of Long-term Survival of Implants and Endodontically Treated Teeth
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3872851/
The survival of restored endodontically treated teeth (83.34%) and implants (80.8%) in the same arch showed no significant difference after 8 years (Vozza et al., 2011). All reported success/survival rates, however, did not guarantee a favorable prognosis, given individual clinical circumstances (John et al., 2007).
So, the implants are very expensive, and this is the new trend, but more expensibve does not necessary mean better.
More than that I had a friend that did a major infection from implants, so the infection related risks are also the same. The ideea that your own treated tooth has bigger chance of infection than an implant as was stated by one of previous posters is wrong. Your "dead" tooth is the same as an implant. If the area become infected you will have similar signals, not as strong as an "alive" tooth.