Do I go for a second apicoectomy or implant? (photo)

Question

In high school I was elbowed in the mouth, knocking #10 loose.It tightened back up, but eventually started to die so a root canal was needed.Fast forward 10 years later—same tooth started to bother me again.I had an apicoectomy done—lasted 2 years.It’s now started to bother me again.My endodontist told me he could a)try another apicoectomy treatment or b)could go straight to an implant.I am only 28–should I give up and go straight to implant or try to prolong life of this tooth as long as I can?

Ricardo Alvarez, DDS · Answer

Hi According to your x-ray the tooth seems to be in such good conditions that is worth trying to preserve it in mouth even though an implant is nowadays the best option to replace a missing tooth it will never replace in full a natural tooth, the best road to take in trying to preserve it would be with a retreatment if after one week the discomfort or pain does not show any progress the second step would be an apicoectomy if this does not work then your third and last option should be an extraction and implant placement.
Regards

Erez Nosrati, DMD, MSD, MSc · Answer

Hi
This is an easy question with one answer. Take the tooth out, graft the whole area and after adequate healing place a good stablemate implant that will serve you for years.

Doug Jopling, DDS · Answer

You are young and if the prognosis of the apicoectomy is at least 50%, I would advise on trying the apicoectomy first.

Moris Aynechi, DMD, MD · Answer

If the the tooth has been root canaled and apico, it seems like it has failed.  Another apico most likely would not increase chance of survival.  The implant is your best choice now.

Amber Garcia, DDS · Answer

That's a choice for you to make. Do you want to attempt another apicoectomy knowing that it may fail again and ultimately need an implant in the future? Unfortunately, you won't know the outcome until you try it.

Do I go for a second apicoectomy or implant? (photo)

Answers (5)