Apicoectomy means:
- a- surgical removal of the apical portion of the root***
- b- removal of one or more roots
- c- the root and the crown are cut lengthwise
- d- none.
The correct answer is a- surgical removal of the apical portion of the root.
Here's why:
a- surgical removal of the apical portion of the root:
This is the definition of an apicoectomy. It involves removing the tip (apex) of a tooth root, which is often done as a last resort when standard root canal therapy hasn't successfully resolved an infection or inflammation in the tip of the root.
b- removal of one or more roots:
This is called root resection, which is a different surgical procedure than apicoectomy. It involves removing one or more entire roots of a tooth, not just the tip.
c- the root and the crown are cut lengthwise:
This is called hemisection, another different surgical procedure than apicoectomy. It involves cutting a tooth in half, both the crown and root, and removing one half.
Therefore, the only option that accurately defines apicoectomy is a- surgical removal of the apical portion of the root.
