Comparison of the efficiency of arm force versus arm force plus wrist movement in closed method extractions an...

Atraumatic dental extraction preserves not only the bone, but also maintains the gingival architecture, hence allows immediate or late dental implant placement. The incidence of fracture of roots and buccal cortical plates increases when wrong force is used. Currently, there is insufficient literature evidence with regard to the appropriate method for application of arm and wrist force at the time of dental extraction.

Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of arm force only versus arm force plus wrist movement during closed extractions.

The patients who underwent extractions of right upper molars (n = 50) in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department were selected for the study after obtaining Informed Consent. The patients with grossly decayed broken teeth and mobile teeth were excluded. The procedure was carried out by interns and was observed by three maxillofacial surgeons of more than 5 years of experience independently.

It was observed that 30% of the trainees used arm only force during dental extraction and were unaware about it. The time taken for tooth removal in the group which used arm and wrist force was significantly lesser (P < 0.001). It was also observed that the breakage of tooth and alveolar bone fracture was more common with the group who used only arm force.

From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that during exodontia procedures, the principle of using arm and wrist facilitates safe and easy removal of tooth with less time.