Periapical Surgery
Surgical intervention at the apex of a tooth root, encompassing root-end resection, root-end preparation, and root-end filling, performed when orthograde root canal treatment has failed or is not feasible.
Full Definition
Periapical surgery (synonymous with endodontic surgery or root-end surgery) involves the elevation of a mucoperiosteal flap, removal of periapical pathology, resection of the root apex (apicoectomy), ultrasonic preparation of a root-end cavity, and placement of a biocompatible root-end filling material. The procedure is indicated when non-surgical retreatment is contraindicated or has not resolved periapical disease. Editors should note that 'periapical surgery', 'endodontic surgery', and 'apical surgery' are interchangeable in modern literature, but authors must use one term consistently throughout a manuscript; 'apicoectomy' alone is considered an incomplete descriptor, as it does not encompass the root-end filling step.
Usage
Usage note: 'Apicoectomy' refers only to root-end resection; editors should flag manuscripts that use it as a synonym for the entire surgical procedure.
In Context
- "Periapical surgery was indicated following two failed orthograde retreatment attempts on the maxillary central incisor." — Surgical case report — introduction
- "The manuscript uses 'apicoectomy' and 'periapical surgery' interchangeably; the editor should standardise to the latter, which encompasses the complete procedure." — Editorial review note