Who treats you
Dr. med. dent. M.Sc. Sandro Strößner – working in implantology since 2013 · M.Sc. in Oral Implantology and Periodontology – together with the team at Zahnkompetenzzentrum Weißenfels.
First Appointment
Findings and, if needed, X-ray/cone-beam CT, discussing the chances of preserving the tooth; for acute symptoms, short-notice appointments where possible.
Costs
Before every treatment, you receive a written treatment and cost plan showing your own contribution; patients with statutory and private health insurance are treated equally.
First Step
Book an appointment around the clock via our online reception (the “Appointment” button), or by phone during opening hours on 03443 339 65 54.
“An apicoectomy (root-end resection) may be considered if a root canal treatment that has already been carried out does not show lasting success – for example because bacteria remained outside the canal or the anatomy prevented complete disinfection.”
Cone-beam CT scan, intraoral scans, structured assessment. The first appointment isn't treatment — it's a conversation backed by data.
From the final dental prosthesis back to the surgery. What should exist at the end determines the first step — not the other way round.
Coordinated by one team under one roof. Surgery, prosthetics, laboratory — nothing handed off, nothing lost in translation.
The operation is a routine procedure, takes 30–60 minutes, is carried out under local anaesthetic (on request, under sedation), and is closed with visible skin sutures or dissolvable stitches. After a week, you are generally symptom-free again.
Short videos in which our team answers the questions we're asked most often. No jargon, no sales pressure.
The videos provide general information and do not replace individual advice or examination. The course and outcome of treatment depend on personal circumstances; medicine offers no guarantee of success. All videos have subtitles.
Surgical Tooth Preservation
Sometimes inflammation at the root tip announces itself quietly: a dull sensation of pressure when biting down, sensitivity that keeps returning, or a small swelling on the gum that seems to appear for no reason. Behind such symptoms there is often a chronic focus of inflammation at the end of the tooth root – the point where the fine bundle of nerve and blood vessels leaves the tooth. If a conventional root canal treatment has not been able to settle this focus of inflammation permanently, an apicoectomy (root-tip resection, WSR for short) offers a way to preserve your own tooth after all, rather than extracting it.
At the Zahnkompetenzzentrum Dr. med. dent. M.Sc. Sandro Strößner in Weißenfels, we understand an apicoectomy (root-tip resection) as what it fundamentally is: a tooth-preserving microsurgical procedure. The aim is not to get rid of a tooth quickly, but to give it a further chance. The natural tooth, with its anchoring in the jawbone, its adaptation to the bite, and its interaction with neighbouring teeth, cannot be fully recreated by any dental prosthetic. This is exactly why it is worth carefully checking, before extraction, whether the tooth cannot after all be saved.
This information does not replace a personal conversation. Every root, every inflammation and every person is different – whether an apicoectomy is the right approach in an individual case can only be reliably assessed after examination and an X-ray. We are happy to take the time needed for this in Weißenfels.
Background
Every tooth has a fine network of cavities inside it: the root canals. These contain the nerves and blood vessels that supply the tooth. If bacteria get into this system – for example, through deep decay, a crack in the tooth, or leaking filling margins – the tissue in the canal can die and become inflamed. The inflammation spreads down along the canal and eventually reaches the root tip, where the canal opens into the surrounding jawbone. It is precisely at this point that the typical chronic focus of inflammation develops.
The body attempts to contain this focus of infection. In doing so, inflamed tissue can form, which, depending on its size and nature, is referred to as a granuloma or a cyst. Such changes are often painless for a long time and are quite often discovered by chance on an X-ray. However, they mean that the inflammation persists and that the bone around the root tip is affected.
An apicoectomy (root-tip resection) is a minor surgical procedure in which the diseased root tip, together with the surrounding inflamed tissue, is specifically removed. The tooth itself is preserved – only the very end of the root is removed. The English term “apicoectomy” combines “-ectomy” (surgical removal) with the root tip, known as the apex. Clinicians therefore also refer to it as an apicectomy or root-tip amputation.
The two procedures are often confused, but they take different routes to the same goal. In root canal treatment, the tooth is opened from the chewing surface, and the canal is cleaned, disinfected and sealed from the inside. It is, in a sense, the “route from above”. An apicoectomy (root-tip resection), by contrast, is the “route from the side”: the root tip is reached and treated directly through the gum and bone.
Which approach makes sense in an individual case depends on many factors – for example, whether the canal is still accessible at all, whether the tooth already has a crown or a post, and how pronounced the inflammation of the bone is. We make this assessment together with you here in Weißenfels.
Indication
An apicoectomy (root-tip resection) is not a routine procedure carried out for every root inflammation. Rather, it is a targeted option when other ways of preserving the tooth are not sufficient or not possible. The central question is always: can the tooth be preserved in the long term this way – and does the benefit outweigh the burden of the procedure?
It is often a combination of these factors. A classic example: a tooth had root canal treatment and was crowned years ago. Now the X-ray shows a dark area at the root tip, and the tooth is sensitive when chewing. Repeating the root canal treatment would mean sacrificing a well-fitting crown – an apicoectomy (root-tip resection), by contrast, reaches the source of inflammation directly, without having to destroy the restoration.
The decisive idea behind every apicoectomy is preserving the tooth. Your own tooth, firmly anchored in the jaw, offers advantages that cannot simply be replaced: it keeps the jawbone in shape through natural loading, it preserves the position of neighbouring and opposing teeth, and it feels familiar when chewing. As long as there is a realistic prospect of sensibly saving a tooth, it is, in most cases, worth seriously exploring this route before deciding on extraction.
Not every tooth can sensibly be saved this way. If the root is fractured lengthwise, the tooth is severely loose, or bony support has already largely been lost due to advanced periodontitis, an apicoectomy can reach its limits. The position of the tooth also plays a role – some roots lie in close proximity to important structures such as the maxillary sinus or nerve pathways, which calls for particular care. We discuss such aspects openly and honestly with you before every procedure.
The Procedure
A thorough examination always comes before the actual procedure. An up-to-date X-ray shows the position of the root, the extent of the inflammation and its proximity to neighbouring structures. In some cases, a three-dimensional scan (cone-beam CT) is helpful for accurately assessing the spatial situation. On this basis, we plan the procedure and discuss it with you in detail – so that you know exactly what to expect.
The process usually follows these steps:
How long the procedure takes depends heavily on the position and number of roots involved. A single-rooted front tooth is usually treated considerably more quickly than a molar with several roots at the back of the jaw. In many cases, an apicoectomy (root-tip resection) is completed in a single session, so you leave the practice again on the same day.
Understandably, fear of pain is one of the most common reasons why people put off a necessary procedure. An apicoectomy (root-tip resection) is therefore carried out under local anaesthetic. The anaesthetic is administered specifically in the area of the affected root, so that the procedure involves as little pain as possible. You remain awake and responsive throughout, but do not feel anything in the treated area.
For people with pronounced dental anxiety, or for more extensive procedures, the Zahnkompetenzzentrum Dr. Strößner also offers additional options for calming – including sedation, a medication-based form of relaxation in which you experience the procedure in a calm, relaxed state. Whether, and in what form, this makes sense for you is something we clarify in a preliminary conversation. What matters to us is that you do not feel at the mercy of the treatment, but know that you are well supported.
The root tip lies deep within the bone and is only a few millimetres in size. To work precisely in this delicate area, modern apicoectomy procedures use magnifying aids and fine instruments. Strong optical magnification – for example, using magnifying loupes or an operating microscope – reveals details that would be almost impossible to see with the naked eye.
This attention to detail serves one purpose: giving the tissue and bone the best possible conditions for the healing that follows. How this healing progresses in an individual case, however, can never be fully predicted – it also depends on factors beyond the procedure itself, such as individual wound healing and cooperation with aftercare. Immediately afterwards, we give you all the important guidance for the first hours and days. Stitches are generally removed again after a few days.
Healing & What to Do
After an apicoectomy (root-end resection), the body begins healing straight away. The gum closes over within the first few days, while the bone in the area of the removed root tip gradually rebuilds over a longer period. Whereas the surface tissue usually heals within one to two weeks, bony healing can take several months. This is a normal process and no cause for concern.
In the first few hours after the procedure, the numbed area may still feel numb – avoid eating during this time, so that you do not accidentally bite your cheek or tongue. Slight swelling in the treated area is common in the first few days and is part of the natural healing process. A certain feeling of pressure or tension may also occur and will ease over time.
We give you the exact recommendations individually, as they can vary depending on the procedure and your personal situation. If in doubt, follow the instructions you received from us in Weißenfels, and if you're unsure, it's better to get in touch once too often than not enough.
Pain that is getting worse or lasting a long time, swelling that is clearly increasing, persistent bleeding, fever, or a general feeling of being unwell are reasons to contact us. Such signs are rare, but should be checked rather than waited out. In this case, please call us on 03443 339 65 54 – we will discuss the next steps with you.
Alternatives, Risks & Aftercare
An apicoectomy is one of several ways of dealing with an inflamed tooth. Which approach is right can only be decided on a case-by-case basis and together with you. We place great value on presenting the options to you in an understandable way, so that you can make an informed decision.
Extracting the tooth is always the last resort, once it can no longer be saved. It reliably ends the inflammation, but it leaves a gap whose treatment, in turn, involves its own effort. This is exactly why preserving the tooth – wherever possible – comes first for us. We only discuss in detail what solution might follow an extraction if that step is actually necessary.
Like any surgical procedure, an apicoectomy carries certain risks. These include, for example, swelling, bleeding, temporary sensitivity, or, depending on the position of the root, proximity to neighbouring structures such as nerve pathways or the maxillary sinus. Despite careful treatment, the desired healing may also not occur in every case. We inform you personally and comprehensively about the risks relevant to your individual situation before the procedure – this consultation is a fixed part of our treatment.
Treatment is not yet complete once the procedure itself is over. Healing of the bone takes time, and its progress is best monitored with follow-up appointments. Generally, an X-ray is taken after a few months to assess how the bone around the former root tip is developing. These follow-up checks help to identify early on whether everything is healing as hoped – and, if necessary, to respond in good time. We arrange the necessary follow-up appointments together with you and continue to keep an eye on your tooth after the procedure.
Costs & Location
One of the most common questions before the procedure concerns cost. Understandably so – after all, you want to know what to expect financially. However, flat-rate amounts are difficult to give, because the actual cost depends on several factors: which tooth is affected, how many roots are treated, how demanding access to the area is, and which additional measures or materials are used.
An apicoectomy (root-tip resection) is, in principle, part of the range of services covered by statutory health insurance, provided certain requirements are met. Procedures on front and side teeth are covered under defined conditions, while particular rules apply to some teeth further back in the mouth. For patients with statutory health insurance, the procedure is therefore a covered service in many cases – the health insurer then bears the cost of the medically necessary basic treatment.
The cost of an apicoectomy (root-tip resection) cannot be stated as a flat rate, as it depends on the tooth, the number of roots, the work involved, and any additional services chosen. For patients with statutory health insurance, the procedure is covered by the health insurer under certain conditions. Possible out-of-pocket shares mainly arise from additional diagnostics, optional extras, or sedation. Before treatment, we prepare a clear treatment and cost plan for you, so that you know exactly which services the insurer covers and which shares, if any, need to be paid privately. For an individual quote and any questions, please contact us on 03443 339 65 54.
It matters to us that there are no surprises when it comes to cost. Before we carry out an apicoectomy, we discuss the planned scope and the expected cost breakdown with you transparently. This allows you to decide calmly and, if needed, check in advance with your health insurer.
The Zahnkompetenzzentrum Dr. med. dent. M.Sc. Sandro Strößner is your point of contact in Weißenfels when it comes to saving inflamed teeth and surgical treatment. Patients from Weißenfels and the entire Burgenlandkreis – for example from Hohenmölsen, Lützen, Teuchern, or Naumburg – do not have to travel far for a microsurgical procedure such as an apicoectomy. Our aim is treatment that puts the person at its centre: from thorough diagnostics, through clear explanation, to accompanying aftercare.
If you are unsure whether apicoectomy is an option for you, or if you would like a second opinion on an infected tooth, feel free to book an appointment at our practice in Weißenfels. Call us on 03443 339 65 54 – we will take the time for your questions and work out together with you which route is right for your tooth.
An apicoectomy (root-end resection) may be considered if a root canal treatment that has already been carried out does not show lasting success – for example because bacteria remained outside the canal or the anatomy prevented complete disinfection. At our Zahnkompetenzzentrum, we perform apicoectomies using a microsurgical approach, magnifying loupes or a surgical microscope, and retrograde MTA filling.
This means we surgically remove only the affected root tip, including the inflamed tissue, seal the cut surface bacteria-tight with MTA (mineral trioxide aggregate), and in many cases are able to preserve the tooth.
What convinced me was the absence of marketing. No promises. Just planning, explanation, execution. I had eight implants placed and didn't even feel like I'd made a difficult decision.
I was an anxious patient for fifty years. Today, I am no longer one. Not because my anxiety has disappeared, but because this team took it seriously, without ever making a drama out of it.
At the Zahnkompetenzzentrum
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