Apicoectomy
Pronunciation: ay-pee-koh-EK-toh-mee
A minor oral surgical procedure in which the apex of a tooth root is excised and the root canal sealed retrogradely, typically performed when conventional endodontic treatment has failed.
Full Definition
An apicoectomy (also called periapical surgery or root-end resection) is performed when infection or pathology persists at the apex of a tooth root despite root canal treatment. The surgeon reflects a mucoperiosteal flap, removes a small amount of overlying bone, resects the root tip, and places a retrograde filling material such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). The term is spelled with a single 'c' ('apicoectomy'), and editors should note the common misspelling 'apicectomy', which omits the 'o'. Documentation for apicoectomies typically includes operative notes detailing the tooth number, flap design, amount of root resected, and retrograde material used.
Usage
Usage note: Do not abbreviate or contract to 'apicectomy' in formal documents. The preferred spelling retains the connecting vowel 'o'.
In Context
- "The operative note recorded that an apicoectomy of the upper-left lateral incisor was completed without complication." — Operative Note
- "Authors should ensure 'apicoectomy' is not abbreviated to 'apicectomy', which omits the medial vowel." — Style Guide