Home » Endodontic Services » Micro Surgery – Apicoectomy
If you have had a root canal in the past, but infection keeps recurring, it might be time to talk to an Endodontist in Maricopa County about a precision-surgery solution: Apicoectomy is a root-end resection or a surgical root canal.
Apicoectomies may sound intimidating, but they are one of our most commonly performed micro-surgeries. And our patients are always comforted to know that Dr. Duval has performed thousands of them – successfully and painlessly.
Only after consultation, imaging, and thorough examination will your Scottsdale Endodontist make the decision along with you to decide if this type of treatment is the best choice to retain your tooth. Apicoectomies are recommended for a number of reasons. The anatomy of your tooth roots consists of a complex and intricate system dividing into narrowing branches. Some people have extra branches, while others have narrowing caused by calcium deposits as a reaction of your tooth to trauma or infection. Because of the delicacy of these root tips, your general dentist may not be able to see or reach all of the infected tissue with a traditional root canal. When traditional root canal treatments won’t do the trick, your Scottsdale Endodontist may recommend attempting to retain the tooth and address the chronic issue with an apicoectomy.
Dr. Duval uses dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to obtain detailed, three-dimensional images of root canals and other soft tissues, nerve pathways, teeth, and bone in one scan. Once we have a clear image of what we are looking for, we use microscopes for ultra-precision and efficiency for this sophisticated, microsurgical procedure. A small incision will be made in your gums, directly over the infected root. The tip of this root is removed and the bony area around the root is cleaned. Once removal and disinfection of the tooth are complete, the underside of the root is sealed with a biocompatible that both seals the root and also induces healing and regeneration. Dr. Duval, your Endodontist in Scottsdale, then repositions the gum tissue and closes the area with tiny sutures for final healing. Over time, your bone will heal, and your tooth will function the way nature intended.
I'm so grateful for Dr. Duval and his assistant for doing such a great job on a difficult procedure. Their professional care and communication with me was noticed throughout the surgery and recovery stages. Thank you for going out of you way to make me feel extra comfortable and cared for.
The staff and Dr. Duval couldn't have been nicer! They got me in on short notice, did 3-D X-rays, and explained to me that the tooth could not be be save. The office manager got me an appointment for the extraction the same day!
But all I can say is Thank God for Dr. Duval and his staff. If all "dentists" were like Dr. Duval, perhaps I would not have had so many truly awful experiences. He is a kind person who is highly professional, and his staff was also very caring and friendly. I would travel great distances to go to Dr. Duval again.
I am a big sissy when it comes to dental procedures. Thank you so much Dr. Duval! My repeat root canal was a good experience. Excellent pain control during procedure and he explained everything in a very understandable and reassuring way.
I saw Dr. Duval for a really bad cavity that was all the way down into the nerve of my tooth. I was very afraid that the tooth could not be saved, but Dr. Duval gave it a thorough assessment and decided that the tooth was still worth fighting for. I appreciated him being upfront and honest with me about my options/odds and I feel confident in the decision we made. He was excellent during the procedure and made me feel at ease. I was also incredibly impressed with how kindly he spoke to his assistant during my appointment. Don't go anywhere else for endodontics care!
If the game plan at Loop 101 Endodontics is to change your perception of the root canal experience, they have hit it out of the park. Most people will bring a good measure of stress, discomfort and fear with them to an Endodontic visit. At Loop 101 it is hard to hang on to any of that for long. When you arrive as a new patient you are greeted by the entire team with smiles as big as all out doors. They know your name and they know why you are there. They tend to your ease and your physical comfort and they ask you questions in attempt to know you as a person. The work of making a diagnosis is made easier by state of the art equipment and the making of a treatment plan is clear with all options explored. By this time you have forgotten you were nervous so when the real work begins you are relaxed and confident about what is happening to you. At the helm of this competent team is Dr Ryan Duval. A warm personality with an obvious compassion for patients who are all in distress when they begin. He is skilled at every aspect of his work and, for me, a three appointment, semi complicated, double root canal was entirely pain free with the end result that I am comfortable for the first time in months. Above all, you will meet a man who has done everything in his power to establish a patient centered practice and that is evident when you watch him with his team. Ella, Jennifer, and Kari are like cogs in a finely tuned machine. They are highly skilled professionals who know every aspect of their own duties as well as the larger scope of your care. It is difficult to say that a root canal was in any way pleasant, but in this case it was an absolute pleasure to do business with Loop 101 Endodontics. I give them 10 out of 5 stars!
I have been practicing dentistry in Bend, Oregon for the last 20 years. I am very fortunate that for the last 10+ years Dr. Ryan Duval has served as my primary referral for the majority of my patients endodontic needs. Dr. Duval has the rare and unique skill set to communicate with the patient in terms that they can understand and perform the procedure in a comfortable and timely manner. I know that when patients are referred to Dr. Duval they will be very well cared for in every respect. My patients have always been very appreciative of Dr. Duval’s care returning to my office with only positive things to say. Central Oregon will miss having Dr. Duval delivering the highest skill set in endodontic therapy. The people of the Phoenix area are very lucky-you have a great one!
Dr. Ryan Duval is an expert - plus he is kind and funny. He listened to my concerns beforehand and made sure my needs were met throughout the procedure. You are in excellent hands if you go to Dr. Duval.
Dr. Ryan Duval is the finest endodontist I have worked with. That claim represents 35 years in dentistry in Texas, Colorado and Oregon. His testing is based on science and systematic procedure that is rigorous and definitive. His diagnoses are well considered and he is careful to balance the patient’s overall medical, emotional, and oral condition with the prognosis of the tooth in question. We place tremendous trust in an endodontist and his team to welcome our patients, put them at ease, complete treatment accurately and comfortably, and to educate them regarding treatment/post op instructions – but most importantly – to send them back to us smiling. Dr. Duval’s patient communication, follow up and care is tremendous. His passion for patient care shows up in the way his practice works and the people he employs. He is supportive and calm and ensures that the treatment flows properly and efficiently. I invite you to work with Dr. Duval.
Dr. Duval and his staff were great. They took extra care to keep me pain-free and provided an explanation of what was being done. Thanks Dr. Duval and the staff!
I have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Ryan Duval for 7 years. I am a pediatric dentist who has been in private practice for 16 years in Central Oregon. When I first met Dr. Duval, he was friendly, open, and displayed an energy and interest in treating young patients. Over the years I have referred many patients to Dr. Duval. When these patients returned to me, I would ask them how their treatment went. The patients and parents were always excited to relay their great experience. Dr. Duval has very good clinical skills complemented by a charming and relaxing chairside manner that puts patients at ease. The communication between offices, patients, and dentists before and after treatment was thorough and accurate. Dr. Duval is available to discuss patient treatment and is very quick to respond to treatment needs. You are very fortunate to have Dr. Duval as a resource for you and your patients. My loss is your gain. Dr. Duval and his family are an asset to any community they call home. He is already sorely missed by myself and my colleagues.
I recommend Dr. Duval and his staff. They combine state of the art procedures and equipment with making sure that you are comfortable throughout the procedure. No one wants to have a tooth problem, but if you do, they will take excellent care of you!
I’ve had the pleasure of spending the last 7 years working with Dr. Duval in the Central Oregon Community. His treatment modalities and oral health opinions are all grounded in evidence based data and factual science. He also has the ability, however, to make practical health decisions and treat the patient and not just the tooth. He has always been a good healthcare teammate and worked to understand the “big picture” and how his treatment relates to the overall treatment plan of the patient. As a caring clinician, I wouldn’t ever hesitate in having him treat one of my own family members.
My wife and I were traveling to our honeymoon, when she got an unreal toothache. We were referred to Dr. Duval because my wife needed a root canal. These guys are the best! They were very informative and direct. He got the surgery done quickly, and my wife didn't even know that she had a root canal after just two days!
The staff and Dr. Duval couldn't have been nicer! What great service and kind, helpful people.
Not every infected tooth needs to be lost
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