Few things unsettle a dental patient quite like being told they need surgery, yet an apicoectomy is far less daunting than its name suggests. This procedure has helped countless people keep their natural teeth even after a root canal has failed to clear up an infection. Understanding what the surgery involves, and how sedation can ease the nerves of anxious patients, makes the whole experience much less intimidating. Key points An apicoectomy is an endodontic surgery performed to save a natural tooth by removing persistent infection at the tip of the root. The procedure is typically recommended when a previous root canal has failed to resolve inflammation or infection. During…