Surgical management of an endodontic retreatment failure of a mandibular first molar

One of the common endodontic iatrogenic mishaps is the extrusion of obturation material which has a negative effect on the long-term prognosis of the tooth. Surgical endodontics has enabled us to save teeth with persistent infections and extrusions when orthograde treatment has been unsuccessful. Apicoectomy of the molars is not frequently performed even though its success rate can reach that of anteriors and premolars. This case report describes the orthograde and surgical management of a mandibular first molar with external root resorption, instrument separation in the canal, and extruded obturation material, which had been unresponsive to endodontic retreatment.