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Jun
Frequently Asked Questions: Endodontic Surgery
Our doctors at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio specialize in diagnosing and treating dental infections. Root canal therapy is the most common treatment. It is a non-surgical procedure to preserve a deeply decayed or damaged tooth. Some teeth that have had previous root canal treatment have persistent signs of infection and may benefit from surgical endodontic procedures. Surgery is sometimes recommended when the original treatment was inadequate or for other reasons, and may be necessary to “save” a tooth.
What is Endodontic Surgery?
As endodontists, we have the advanced training and experience to offer surgical procedures and techniques. All of these procedures can resolve inflammation and infection efficiently, effectively and painlessly. The medical term for this procedure is “apicoectomy,” but it is sometimes referred to as “root-end surgery” or “root-end resection.”
During this procedure the infected or inflamed tissue in the bone area at the end of the root is removed. The end of the affected root is also removed, and may be sealed with a small filling. The surgical site is closed with a few well-placed sutures.
Am I a Good Candidate for Endodontic Surgery?
We may recommend surgical procedures if:
- A patient continues to experience pain and signs of infections following initial root canal treatment
- Portions of the affected tooth’s internal anatomy were inaccessible
- An infected bony area fails to heal
- Resorption or deterioration of the root arises
- Broken instruments are identified in the tooth
- Biopsies or samples of tissue are necessary to evaluate abnormal areas of bone
Call Our Office for More Information
New Patients: (210) 405-0473 | Existing Patients: (210) 497-6699
What Can I Expect After Surgery?
Precisely-positioned sutures help to encourage uneventful healing of gingival (gum) tissues and a short appointment will be needed to remove them a few days later. Moderate discomfort and swelling are not uncommon for a day or two after the surgery. We will give you Advil or Tylenol at the appointment and most patients take additional doses for a day or two. We will provide oral and written instructions on how to care for the surgical site. Most patients return to their normal activities and schedule the next day. In the months following surgery the bone will naturally heal around the root tip. We will schedule a recall appointment in 6-12 months to take an xray and check on healing. Many patients have been able to keep their teeth because of apicoectomy and other surgical techniques.
Patients have trusted the specialists at Endodontic Consultants of San Antonio for more than 2 decades. If you are having pain or swelling, call (210) 405-0473 to schedule an evaluation appointment. Our doctors will evaluate your problem and discuss your best options.
Dr. Richard Davis, DDS
Richard D. Davis, DDS, graduated from high school in Japan, attended the University of Washington dental school, and joined the Air Force as a general dentist in 1978. He completed the Air Force one-year AEGD residency, a two-year Advanced General Dentistry Residency, and a fellowship in biomaterials at the University of Indiana. Dr. Davis was a clinical instructor, research director, and lecturer at the Air Force. He has published many scientific articles and research papers, and has lectured on many topics. Following retirement from the Air Force in 1999, he completed the graduate program in endodontics at the University of Oregon in 2001, and joined Dr. Schwartz and has been in private practice in endodontics since then.
Dr. Richard Schwartz, DDS
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Richard S. Schwartz, DDS, graduated from the University of Minnesota dental school in 1977. He was a restorative dentist for 19 years: Early in his career, he attended a two-year general dentistry residency while in the US Air Force, and then did a combination of private practice, teaching, and dental materials research before entering endodontic post-graduate training in 1996. He has authored over 100 articles and abstracts in scientific journals and lectured extensively in the US and in 21 other countries, including 12 times at the American Association of Endodontists’ national meeting. Since 1998 Dr. Schwartz has been in full-time private practice in endodontics in San Antonio, TX, and has practiced with Dr. Davis since 2001. He was a founding member and first secretary/treasurer of the International Association of Endodontics. He is also a member of the American Dental Association and International Association of Dental Specialists.
