Coronectomy of the mandibular third molar: a prospective study of 20 procedures

Oral surgeon in private practice, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Department of Oral Surgery, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Medical University, Plovdiv, BulgariaSummary Coronectomy is a surgical procedure designed to avoid the risk of iatrogenic neurological injury to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). The aim of this study was to evaluate success rate of coronectomy. Material and methods: Twenty patients underwent 20 coronectomy procedures of impacted mandibular third molar with close proximity to IAN evaluated on preoperative radiographs. The procedure was performed under mandibular nerve block. Follow-up appointments were perform at 1 week, 1, 6 months. Results: No patients developed IAN injury and no cases of root exposure were found. Eighteen wounds healed primary. In two cases the socket opened and healed secondary. No one root fragments were removed. Conclusion: Coronectomy of wisdom teeth is a safe technique - effective alternative to extraction, when the wisdom tooth shows radiographic signs of close proximity of the IAN to the root