Root Amputation; a viable alternative to tooth extraction: A case series

Abstract

Background: Increased desire of patients to maintain their dentition, supported by advance in dentistry have led to treatment of teeth  that once would have been extracted. To retain such teeth in whole or part, combined restorative, endodontic and periodontal  treatments may be required. The terminology tooth resection refers to the excision and removal of any segment of the tooth or a root  with or without its accompanying crown portion. Root amputation, hemisection, radisection and bisection are among the various tooth  resection procedures described in literature. Root amputation is a procedure that involves the surgical removal of one or more roots of a  multirooted tooth while other roots are retained. The Involved root (or roots) is usually separated at the junction of the root and the crown. Indications for root amputation include; untreatable roots with separated instruments, perforations, extensive caries, resorption,  root fractures, calcifications and periodontal disease with associated severe bone loss.

Objective: To illustrate the clinical management of  teeth with insurmountable impediments by root amputation procedures.

Design: This is a case series, illustrating the clinical  management of four cases, where root amputation procedures were performed to salvage teeth that would have otherwise been  extracted.

Conclusion: This case series presents four cases of root amputation procedures carried out on maxillary first molars with  insurmountable impediments in either of the buccal roots. The untreatable roots were amputated salvaging the remaining portion of the  strategically important teeth.