I am about to undergo a second apicoectomy (the first one was done in 2002).  The first time was horrible because I was not numb and felt the entire thing.  My dentist located a fistula or two way down below the gum and the xray is dark and has been dark for the past 12 years and before this.  What is the odds of this succeeding?  I hope the endodontist understands my low tolerance to pain.  My lower lip was swollen and I was in pain for a long time afterwards.  Thank goodness my dentist xrays it.  But I am confused on why the dark area is "missing bone" and how will this procedure possibly help the bone grow back?  It is a risk....because it could fail.  Then I would have to go through pain again and have a tooth extracted and an implant...It is my lower front tooth.  The one next to it seems to have recovered.