When inflammation or infection persists in the bony area around the end of your tooth after a root canal procedure, an apicoectomy (Endodontic Surgery) may be performed.
In this procedure, the Endodontist opens the gum tissue near the tooth to see the underlying bone and to remove any inflamed or infected tissue. The very end of the root is also removed.
A small filling may be placed to seal the end of the root canal and a few stitches or sutures are placed in the gum to help the tissue heal properly.
Over a period of months the bone heals around the end of the root.