Massively scared about apicoectomy - has anyone had one of these and can offer advice/support

[zeezee22]

Massively scared about apicoectomy - has anyone had one of these and can offer advice/support

I have a decision to make, which is worrying me massively and it is scaring me and need any support of advice.

I hope someone can help.

A re-root canal on my front upper tooth has not been very successful and the endodontist thinks the root may be slightly infected, so has advised an apicoectomy where they take the tip of the root off, by going through the gum. I am a very anxious patient anyway and this sounds horrific. I am torn between going for this surgery or having the tooth out all together which will leave me with a gap at the front - my only lost tooth - I have all the rest. I would not want a bridge as both teeth either side are in perfect condition.

Can anyone offer me some reassurance that this surgery is OK as I am freaking out at the moment and do not know what to do for the best. I have spent £700 on the re-root and the apicoectomy is £800. I am not well off and with a struggle I could manage the cost of this, but I need to know if this surgery is horrible or if it would be easier to get it extracted which I could get my NHS dentist to do for around £50 and then consider the replacement options.

I feel so scared about the thought of the apicectomy - can anyone help me please.

 

[badmouth]

Re: Massively scared about apicoectomy - has anyone had one of these and can offer advice/support

I am torn between going for this surgery or having the tooth out all together which will leave me with a gap at the front - my only lost tooth - I have all the rest. I would not want a bridge as both teeth either side are in perfect condition.

Can anyone offer me some reassurance that this surgery is OK as I am freaking out at the moment and do not know what to do for the best. I have spent £700 on the re-root and the apicoectomy is £800. I am not well off and with a struggle I could manage the cost of this, but I need to know if this surgery is horrible or if it would be easier to get it extracted which I could get my NHS dentist to do for around £50 and then consider the replacement options.

I feel so scared about the thought of the apicectomy - can anyone help me please.

I'm sorry I can't give you much info about apicoectomy, but I've had gum surgery before and it really isn't that bad. "Surgery" is almost too strong a word for it--just think of it as dental work, but done through the gums rather than directly.

But I can tell you--do everything you can to save that tooth! There is no substitute for a real tooth, and implants are crazy expensive! As well as very time consuming and involve "surgery" anyway.

If you aren't feeling confident, get a second opinion from another endodontist. Good luck, and I'm sure it will turn out fine.

 

[takingflight]

Re: Massively scared about apicoectomy - has anyone had one of these and can offer advice/support

Hi ZeeZee and ,

I understand what you are going through as I found out I needed an apicoectomy many years ago and was a nervous wreck. I had it done under General Anesthesia so I'm sorry I'm unable to give you any details regarding the actual procedure. I can tell you that it was performed on a tooth that had a root canal (crown) probably 20 years prior. I did not see the dentist for almost that long so I had no idea that a root had been missed and I was losing bone due to an ongoing infection. I finally got back in the chair and needed a ton of work done but was still too terrified to question any of it, I just wanted to have everything "fixed" while I was under the GA. The procedure was a success in that I kept the tooth in question for another 6 years. Sadly, I got an abscess and had to have it extracted after 6 years but I honestly have no way of knowing if it was associated with the apico or just that tooth acting up again. Even so, I was happy to keep the tooth in question for that long. I understand much of it coming down to finances as no one wants to pay a large sum of money for a procedure that may not help. In my particular case, I was able to pay off all the (crazy) expensive dental work over those six years so I could then afford to get an implant once the tooth officially "failed." I know it's a lot to consider, perhaps a chat with your dentist, explaining your concerns, may help you to come up with a plan.

I'm not sure if you tried searching the forums for "apicoectomy" but there are a few out there asking about the procedure and the healing time. Here is a link for a thread that you may find helpful. https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/forum/threads/apicoectomy.21900/ (It even contains a link to another thread, sort of a two for one! )

Wishing you much with whatever decision you go with.

 

[Deedee2604]

Re: Massively scared about apicoectomy - has anyone had one of these and can offer advice/support

Hi zeezee,

I recently had one done in July and like you I was totally freaked out and anxious over it. It actually was not that horrible.

I was numbed up good. They had me bite down on a piece of gauze. This actually soaked up any saliva and blood. I thought I would be swallowing it all but I didn't. The worst part for me was the drilling. I just hate drilling. It was drilling like getting a cavity filled. It actually took less time than a root canal did about 30 minutes. I had to ice it often the first 24 hours to prevent any swelling. I didn't swell much at all. I think it hurt worse a few days later as it was healing but even the pain wasn't horrible and I'm a big baby! Mine was performed by an Endodontist.

Good luck with the procedure. You can do this!

 

[zeezee22]

Re: Massively scared about apicoectomy - has anyone had one of these and can offer advice/support

Just want to thank everyone that has answered my post. After reading your posts, I feel more positive about trying the apicectomy. It will be performed by a well qualified dentist who is an endodontist/oral dental surgeon and who has also trained and qualified as a medical doctor. He is well qualified and very experienced specialist dental surgeon. I am hoping it will solve the discomfort around the tooth which has been going on for what seems like ages. This is an old root canal originally performed by a Specialist, redone with a Specialist Endodontist, but still seems to not want to settle. The Endodontist said the tip needs to come off and the end filled to try to settle it. I can only try and hope for the best. I am waiting for my appointment which is in 2 weeks and in the meantime I am taking antibiotics. I have found this forum so good for support which, as a very anxious and scared patient is invaluable and cannot thank everyone enough for the time taken to help me.