An Apicoectomy, or root-end resection, is the removal of the root tip and the surrounding infected tissue of an abscessed tooth. This procedure may be necessary when inflammation and infection persists in the area around the root tip after root canal treatment. It is an endodontic surgical procedure whereby a tooth’s root tip is removed and a root end cavity is prepared and filled with a biocompatible material.

An Apicoectomy is done only after a tooth has had at least one root canal procedure and retreatment has either not been successful or is not possible. Root canal systems are very complicated with many small off-shooting branches. Sometimes even after a root canal treatment infected debris can remain in these branches and possibly prevent healing or cause re-infection later.