What is an apical fistula?

An apical fistula is a pathological passage that occurs around the root of a tooth.

The formation of an apical fistula is usually caused by an infection of the dental pulp or a lack of timely and effective treatment of periapical periodontitis. An apical fistula may present as a small abscess on the gums that repeatedly breaks and oozes pus. The patient may feel discomfort or slight pain in the bite, but sometimes the symptoms may not be obvious and are easily overlooked. In addition to clinical manifestations, oral examination and X-rays are needed to confirm the diagnosis. X-rays can help detect periapical bone damage and thus assess the condition more accurately. The key to treatment is to eliminate the source of infection. Root canal treatment requires thorough root canal treatment to remove infectious material from the root canal and then a tight filling of the root canal. In some complex cases, surgery may be needed to completely clean the diseased tissue.