Occasionally, for various reasons, a root canal will not be sufficient to heal a tooth and endodontic surgery is needed. An incision is made in the gum tissue to expose the bone and surrounding inflamed/infected tissue. The damaged tissue is removed along with the end of the root tip. Sutures are placed at the incision site. The bone naturally heals around the root over a period of months restoring full function. Following the procedure, there may be some bruising, discomfort and/or slight swelling while the incision heals. This is normal for any surgical procedure.