What is Apexification?
Apexification is an endodontic procedure used in conjunction with root canal therapy to save a damaged tooth. The procedure is typically recommended for children who have damaged a permanent tooth before the tooth is fully developed. Here’s what you need to know about apexification.
A fully developed tooth has a cone-shaped root that widens at the crown (the portion of the tooth visible above the gum line) and narrows to a closed root tip. Undeveloped adult teeth may not have a closed root tip.
The lack of a closed root tip is usually only an issue if a dental injury damages the tooth. Then, the open root tip may never close. This open root will cause problems during a root canal and prevent the tooth from being properly cleaned and restored. Apexification uses a calcified barrier to close and seal the open root tip so that a root canal can later be used to treat the tooth. Without apexification, the tooth lacks the natural barrier to contain the material used in a root canal.
What can you expect from an Apexification?
We begin the apexification by numbing the mouth. Then, we clean the tooth and remove damaged material and pulp. After we sanitize the tooth, we pack the tooth, fill it, and seal it. You’ll need to return for a few check-ups so we can confirm that the open tooth root is calcifying and closing properly. Once the apexification is complete, we’ll perform a root canal to preserve and protect the tooth. No special aftercare is needed after an apexification.
What are the benefits of Apexification?
There are multiple benefits associated with apexification that make it an effective procedure for treating a damaged undeveloped tooth.
Apexification saves the natural tooth
Root canal treatment is an effective procedure for saving a damaged or infected tooth, but we can’t perform a root canal on a tooth with an open root. Apexification closes the root so that we can treat the tooth with root canal therapy.
Losing a tooth has many negative consequences, including jawbone loss, difficulties speaking, chewing, and biting, and changes in the appearance of the mouth and face. A missing tooth also puts additional wear and tear on the surrounding teeth that must compensate for its loss. It’s more cost-effective to save your natural tooth than to extract the tooth and replace it.
The procedure prevents infection
Once apexification places the barrier over the root tip, this significantly decreases the chances of bacteria causing an infection in the tooth’s canal area. This prevents further inflammation and infection from developing.
The tooth will look and function normally
Apexification enables a tooth to maintain its natural appearance and full functionality. You can freely use a tooth treated with apexification to bite and chew your food. If your child experiences a dental injury, contact us today to see if they’re a candidate for apexification.
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