Has anyone had an apicectomy?

[Fllight]

Might have to have this as my tooth is infected, it is already root filled and has a crown, I think it's because I'm run down, am on AB's but if it doesn't clear up the dentist says he will refer me to the hosp for this.
I am freaking out a little, I think it means they cut into your gum and remove the tip of the root. It only has a 70% success rate and is a last resort for saving the tooth.

Eek. Has anyone else had this done and was it awful?

I had this done last year after approx 15 years of recurrent infections following a failed root canal. I was lucky in that I managed to get it done under GA (and had a dodgy wisdom tooth whipped out at the same time!), so didn't feel a thing. A bit sore for a few days afterwards, and it took a few more weeks for the tiny bit of swelling to go down, but all fine now. HTH.

Ah thankyou. I'm glad some of you have heard of it!
I'm a wuss too riven. It's a couple of teeth and I daren;t refuse or I think I'll start a vicious circle and they'll all fall out or something.

Tatty, that's brave - the only thing that scares me is having to have a GA. It can be done with a local I think - hope so anyway - but if you have a GA you have gas don't you? I am emetophobic, can't deal with feeling sick so I think it might be the awake option for me.

Did it make the tooth wobbly for a whle afterwards as well? I read it takes a few weeks for the bone to grow around it and stabilise it.

I had this and went with rxtraction after spending a fortune and feeling ill for what seemed like forever.I couldn't face anymore though and just wanted the bloody thing out.After all the trauma my dentist admitted root canals weren't that succesful in the long term!I think they will anaesthetise you though so won't be too bad

I'm also wondering if there's something I can tae dietwise to boost the whole system - I think breastfeeding for nearly a year has depleted my body's resources a lot as I eat badly and neglect my diet.
Wondering if some supplements would help shift the infection as well...?

Might stop Bfing in a month when ds is a year old.

I seem to remember my teeth falling apart last time I was long term Bfing as well.

NH did you have the apic. thingy first? Explain! Did that not work?

Sorry no I had a root filling which kept getting infected and after repeated attempts to clear teh infection I was offered the apicectomy and I decided no and had the tooth out and had instant relief and realised it had beem making me feel ill for nearly 2 years!

Thanks! have heard that tooth infections can make you feel really awful all over.
I think I might have all mine out actually and get stylish dentures...

I have had a kiney transplant and the doctors were thinking there was something wrong as my blood tests indicated low grade fever for years and I was sick and tired all teh time.It turned out to be the tooth

No - the tooth wasn't wobbly at all, although it is very grey now - need to get round to doing something cosmetic about it when I'm feeling rich!

When I had the GA, it was a needle in the back of my hand, and they just injected something to knock me out. Mind you, I had to have it done in hospital, so may be different if they get an anaethetist in to the dentist's surgery to do it. Couldn't have faced having it done under local, as I have a real phobia about needles in my mouth - this coming from a woman who happily gave herself injections for fertility treatment .......

Hi Flight I have had apicectomies and am a qualified dental nurse, though not working at the mo.

I am glad I had mine - it saved my front teeth, I was 19 at the time my brother hit me in the mouth with a tennis racquet when I was 10! I had it under local first but it didn't work so I had it under GA at the hospital where I worked. You can ask to see a maxillo facial surgeon at a hospital to do it. I wasn't gassed - I had a venflon etc and I am emotophobic too so they gave me anti emetics at the time of the GA and as soon as I came round. You need x rays quite frequently afterwards to make sure the bone is regrowing etc. Don't be put off, mine touch wood are fine now so I am glad I didn't have them out.

Oh, Thankyou mumof2 that really helps.
Just out of interest, do you know why it failed the first time - do you think there's a better chance of success if done under GA?

Also wondered if it has a bearing that my other teeth are generally not great?

I have had lots of trouble with them for several years now. eg if there was possible infection elsewhere in the jaw, would it mean the op was pointless?

Thanks for sharing your expertise!

Tattycatty, thanks, I'm glad it was successful and didn't wobble!

The first one failed as the Dentist who did it didn't have a lot of experience in this field. That is why I had it done by an oral surgeon the next time and he wanted to do it under GA as sometimes it can take a while and you can get better access when a patient is asleep, they don't move about and you don't have to worry about the local wearing off.
When I had mine I didn't have any fillings or anything so I don't think this has a bearing. If you get referred to the hospital they will take x rays and will be able to give you the best idea of wether it would be worth while or not.
Hope the anti biotics work for you though and you don't need it.

Thanks, I understand much better now what I'm looking at. Really thankful for your help, everyone. my friend told me today her husband was offered one as well but opted to get rid of the tooth!! Seems more common than I realised.

I have had a attempt done at this, I had it done under dental sedation they explained to me before hand that if the apic thingy did not work they would remove the tooth,this was after several years of deep infection and it did have to be removed, this was a front tooth and I was devastated but now I have a denture and although it was hard to adapt at first,now I feel so much better it was worth it,but I am glad I went down every avenue before extraction,good luck.

Oh I am sorry to hear that Heronsfly. How do you get on with the denture? I don't think I could have one fitted there as the teeth around it are weak too. I might just have a gap (joins Riven in the Happy Gappy corner)

had it done last year here and here . The procedure wasn't actually too bad although it took longer than I had expected. Felt like I'd been kicked by a horse for several days , day 3-4 was worst for bruising showing.

Hi again,
The denture is fine now,although I have an terrible habit of clicking it with my tongue
unfortunatly I did end up having my 4 front teeth removed over a few years but this was the result of a huge infection that at one time spread up to my eye,at first the dentist was going to try a bridge but x ray showed damage had gone too far,it is nice to be able to smile again and I do feel so much better but if I ever win the lottery im having dental implants

Hi, I'm completly dental phobic and had an apicectomy last year with nothing more than a local anesthetic injection and it was fine!
I could see from his hand movements that he was stiching but couldn't feel it. It was one of the least traumatic dental procedures I've had.
1 year on, no pain and no more abcesses.

Wow. Lizs that sounds pretty sore from your other posts, but I'm glad it worked.
UFM - I'm impressed, yes that is what I was hoping to hear

I have had these crowns for a few years without any problems, but the tooth between them has recently started to get holes in it and I think it has allowed infection in iyswim.

It's going to be root filled in June (or earlier if I can get an appt) so I hope that will solve the problem. I guess there's no point doing anything else till that is done, whether it works or not is another matter...

I wish implants were cheap. Told my dentist this am that I was going to save up. Atm looks like about £10,000 for maybe 10. They are more expensive alone than if you get a lot done.

Well a year on the tooth is fairly grey but most of the discolouration is hidden by my lower lip. Might have it veneered at some point.