LOWER THIRD MOLAR CORONECTOMY AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR PRESERVATION OF THE INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

WHEN THE THIRD MOLAR ROOT IS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE MANDIBULAR CANAL THERE IS A HIGHER RISK OF TRAUMATIC LESIONS ON THE INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN TRANSIENT OR PERMANENT SENSITIVITY ALTERATIONS, THE SO-CALLED PARESTHESIAS. IN ORDER TO AVOID SUCH COMPLICATIONS, CORONECTOMY EMERGED AS AN ALTERNATIVE SURGICAL APPROACH TO EXTRACTION OF MANDIBULAR THIRD MOLARS, REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE DEFICIT WHEN COMPARED TO THE EXODONTIA OF THIRD MOLARS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE MANDIBULAR CANAL. AS IT IS A LITTLE DIFFUSED TECHNIQUE, ITS EFFICACY, RESULTS AND POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS REMAIN CONFUSING AMONG PROFESSIONALS. THIS IS A PROCEDURE DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE BY REMOVING ONLY THE CORONAL PORTION OF THE TOOTH, LEAVING THE ROOT IN SITU. THIS TECHNIQUE CONSISTS OF REMOVING THE CROWN PORTION OF THE UNERUPTED TOOTH, AND PART OF ITS ROOTS REMAIN INTACT WITHIN THE DENTAL ALVEOLUS. THUS, THE CHANCES OF INJURY TO THE INFERIOR ALVEOLAR NERVE AND VASCULAR BUNDLE CAN BE REDUCED. THUS, THE PURPOSE OF THIS WORK IS TO EXPOSE THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CORONECTOMY, UNDERSTANDING ITS TECHNIQUE, ADVANTAGES, INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CORONECTOMY IS A PREDICTABLE TECHNIQUE AND EASY TO PERFORM, BEING A USEFUL AND ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE.