Apical surgery and restoration of marginal caries on tooth #6
The maxillary canine is a strategic tooth and its premature loss can have significant restorative consequences. This patient came in for an unrelated issue, but it offered a chance to get 14 year recall on a surgery done at our office. This canine was part of a long-span bridge and had decay under the crown margin, inadequate root canal treatment beneath a large threaded post, and a sizable periapical lesion that extended to the crestal level. The prognosis of treatment here was low, but granted the importance of this tooth, the patient was motivated to save it. Apical surgery was performed and the carious lesion was restored. The recall x-ray says it all, and serves as an example of what we here can do to save seemingly hopeless teeth.
