Apicoectomy aftermath

[bfk39]

I had an apicoectomy 5 months ago. These were my lower front teeth #24 and #23, right next to one another.

Pain was totally manageable after the treatment and subsided for the most part after. However I have lingering tenderness and sensitivity of a sort in/about the teeth treated, and an adjacent untreated tooth (#25). It's a bit hard to describe... I guess it's "soreness" around the two teeth treated and #25 seems regularly irritated with some swelling and a bit of throbbing that comes and goes. That swelling affecting #25 is noticeable as my bite changes ever so slightly and I can feel that tooth touching the tooth above it more when I close my jaws together.

There's no sores or pus or anything visible on my gums. Then again, I did not have that when initially treated, either. Just pain.

I imagine given how invasive the treatment was, bone being carved out and all, the entire area is going to be upset for a while but I'm more worried about a lingering infection. However, there is not the pain or feeling I had prior to the procedure so I also could see minimizing my concerns, too.

My endo didn't schedule a follow up for any sooner than a year after my treatment. So, that's still 7 months from now. I could return to him but wanted to hear from others who may have had this procedure, too.

Thanks for reading.

 

[bfk39]

And, to elaborate as I don't have xrays at hand... these two teeth were treated with root canals initially. That did not resolve the pain I experienced but lessened it. The dentist who did the root canals relied on traditional x-rays for imaging and did not have more in depth options like a CT scan, which the endodontist I went to did employ to get a better view of these teeth. The endo was my second opinion given lingering pain. He determined the initial root canals did not reach the entire bottom/apex of these teeth, given the nerve channel within the tooth had a slight turn at the bottom and the tools used simply could not/did not get everything. He did not recommend re-treatment with root canals and moved to apico as the next option.

 

[Dr Sunali dental Solution]

while lingering tenderness and sensitivity following an apicoectomy can be concerning, they are not uncommon and may simply reflect ongoing healing processes. However, consulting with your dental professional will provide clarity on whether further intervention is needed.