Feeling pain in a tooth that has already been treated with a root canal is frustrating, to say the least. You probably thought the problem was behind you—that the nerve was gone and you could enjoy your smile again without discomfort. Yet here you are, dealing once more with inflammation or a persistent sharp pain.
Before discouragement leads you to believe that losing the tooth is your only option, there is something important you should know: there is an advanced solution to save your tooth. In modern dentistry, extraction is always the last resort.
Today, I want to tell you about apicoectomy, a precision procedure specifically designed to eliminate infection at its source and preserve your natural tooth.
🔍 Why Does an Infection Persist After a Root Canal?
To understand why you might need an apicoectomy, it’s important to first understand the complexity of dental anatomy. Imagine that the root of your tooth isn’t a simple straight tube, but more like a river delta, with hundreds of microscopic branches.
Sometimes, bacteria are extremely resilient. They can lodge themselves at the apex (the very tip of the root), inside canals so tiny that conventional root canal instruments simply can’t reach them.
When bacteria remain trapped there, they create a small area of persistent infection that the body cannot eliminate on its own—even if the rest of the tooth is perfectly sealed.
This is when pain returns, often accompanied by a small bump on the gum (a fistula) or sensitivity when chewing. It doesn’t mean the original root canal was done incorrectly; it simply reflects how complex human biology can be and how, in some cases, a more direct approach is required.
💡 Expert Tip: Did You Know?
Chronic Sinus Issues Can Be Linked to an Untreated Root Tip Infection. In upper molars and premolars, the root tips are very close to the maxillary sinus. A low-grade infection in one of these roots can sometimes cause or worsen sinus symptoms — like pressure, congestion, or chronic sinusitis.
An apicoectomy can not only save the tooth but also resolve persistent sinus irritation that patients didn’t realize was dental in origin.
🦷 Apicoectomy: Healing the Infection at the Root
An apicoectomy is a microsurgical procedure in which we access the infected tip of the root directly to remove inflamed tissue and seal the canal from its base.
While a root canal is performed “blindly” through the internal canals, an apicoectomy allows us to directly visualize the infected area. Thanks to microsurgery, we can remove damaged tissue with millimeter-level precision, offering a definitive solution when tooth anatomy makes conventional treatment insufficient.
🩺 The Apicoectomy Procedure: Step by Step
At Shtern Dental Clinic, we have refined this process to ensure maximum comfort, minimizing fear and anxiety:
- Anesthesia application. The first step is making sure you feel absolutely nothing. We use state-of-the-art local anesthesia techniques to guarantee your comfort.
- Minimally invasive access. A small incision is made in the gum to expose the root tip.
- Removal of infected tissue. We remove the apex—just a few millimeters from the root tip—along with any surrounding infected tissue.
- Retrograde sealing. A small biocompatible filling is placed at the end of the root to permanently seal the canal, preventing bacteria from entering or escaping.
- Closure and recovery. The gum is sutured using special stitches that promote fast healing.
The entire procedure typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes, depending on the tooth’s location. It’s an outpatient treatment that allows you to return to your normal routine much sooner than you might expect.
🛡️ Why Save Your Natural Tooth Instead of Extracting It?
In a fast-paced world where we all want quick fixes and immediate results, many people ask: “Why not just remove the tooth and be done with it?”
As dental health experts, our philosophy is clear: nothing is better than your natural tooth. Preserving it offers significant benefits:
- Bone preservation. Keeping your natural root helps maintain the bone structure of your jaw.
- Less invasive in the long term. While dental implants are an impressive technological solution, they require a longer integration process. An apicoectomy resolves the problem in a single session.
- Natural harmony and aesthetics. Nothing matches the color, shine, and unique shape of your original tooth. By saving it through an apicoectomy, we preserve the authenticity of your smile and avoid changes to the gum line, maintaining a youthful, healthy appearance that no prosthetic can fully replicate.
- Preservation of facial contours. Keeping the natural root is essential for supporting jawbone structure. This prevents long-term facial tissue collapse and helps your face maintain its natural fullness and support.
Preserving your natural root is the only way to ensure truly authentic dental health—and these benefits prove it.
🌴 Recovery in Paradise: Your Well-Being in Cancún
One of the biggest myths surrounding apicoectomy is that recovery is painful. In reality, when performed by experienced hands, discomfort is minimal and easily managed with standard pain relievers.
At Shtern Dental Clinic, your recovery doesn’t take place in a cold waiting room where anxiety amplifies fear—it happens in the serene and exclusive environment of Cancún.
Many of our patients take advantage of their stay to rest by the ocean, where the Caribbean breeze and a relaxed atmosphere help the body heal more quickly. Rest is part of the treatment, and there’s no better place to recover than a destination designed for relaxation.
👨⚕️ Technical Excellence and Human Warmth at Shtern Dental Clinic
We understand that traveling for medical care requires a great deal of trust. At our clinic, an apicoectomy isn’t just a complex dental procedure—it’s a long-term commitment to your health.
At Shtern Dental Clinic, we use cutting-edge technology such as advanced dental microscopy, allowing us to see details invisible to the naked eye and ensure a perfect root seal. But beyond the technology, there’s our team: professionals who understand that behind every infection is a person who has endured pain and is seeking high-quality care.
🤔 Is an Apicoectomy the Right Treatment for You?
You should consider consulting us if you experience any of the following:
- Persistent pain after a root canal
- A small swelling on the gum near the treated tooth
- Discomfort when biting or chewing
- X-rays showing a dark shadow at the root tip
Don’t assume that having had a root canal means everything is fine, and don’t delay your visit any longer. Ignoring dental pain is difficult—and doing so can make treatment more complex.
😊 Restore Your Peace of Mind and Your Smile at Shtern Dental Clinic
Don’t let a persistent infection dictate your quality of life. At Shtern Dental Clinic, we’ve created an experience where high-precision dentistry meets luxury and the personalized care you deserve.
Whether you live in Cancún or are visiting from abroad in search of the highest standard in dental tourism, we are here to take care of you. Place your health in the hands of specialists who master the art of saving smiles.
Ready to eliminate pain and save your tooth? Schedule your consultation with our specialists today and discover why we are the clinic of choice for patients who accept nothing less than excellence.
