Apex (Tooth)

The apex of a tooth is the very tip of the root where the nerve and blood supply enter the dental pulp through a small opening called the apical foramen. This area is essential for the tooth’s vitality because it allows nutrients and nerve signals to reach the inner tissues; damage or infection at the apex can affect the whole tooth and surrounding bone.

Clinically, the apex is important in diagnosing and treating root and periapical problems: infections at the apex can cause pain, swelling, and radiographic changes visible on X-rays. Treatments that target the apex include root canal therapy to remove infected pulp, apicoectomy to surgically remove an infected root tip, and other endodontic procedures aimed at preserving tooth function and resolving periapical disease.