Odontorizectomie: un case series a 12 anni

The study evaluates whether root amputation may be considered a valid alternative to or support for implant treatment in the long term. The series comprised 20 patients, observed from 1997 to 2007; all cases were of mandibular molars in which the distal root was preserved. Causes of the operation were: failure of orthograde therapy with fracture of mesial root, perforation of pulp chamber floor and internal-external mesial root resorption. After 10 years, the success rate was 70%. The encouraging results indicate that root amputation is still an effective method. From both biologic and economic standpoints, it may be considered as an alternative to and/or support for more expensive treatments, but must be employed following precise clinical indications.