Coronectomy: a retrospective outcome study.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Anesthesia
• Surgical Complications

Background:

• Inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury is a known risk during lower third molar extraction.
• Coronectomy offers an alternative when the IAN is closely associated with tooth roots.
• Assessing coronectomy's safety and outcomes is crucial for surgical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document the indications for performing coronectomy.
• To evaluate the short-term (≤3 months) and long-term (>3 months) post-operative outcomes of coronectomy.
• To assess the prevalence of complications following coronectomy.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of patients aged 19-95 undergoing coronectomy over 10 years.
• Data collected from dental records and patient review appointments.
• Recorded high-risk radiographic signs and short- and long-term complications.

Main Results:

• IAN injury occurred in 4.3% short-term and 3.5% long-term cases.
• One case of root eruption was noted 7 years post-surgery.
• Average follow-up for reviewed patients was 4.8 years.

Conclusions:

• Coronectomy is a relatively safe procedure for preserving the inferior alveolar nerve.
• Further large-scale prospective research is required to precisely determine complication rates.
• Coronectomy can be considered a viable option to mitigate IAN injury risk.