Endoscopically Assisted Tooth Extraction

The goal of tooth extraction is the elimination of the diseased tooth as well as periodontal tissue components. If teeth are not visible (often 3rd molar, “wisdom teeth”), an osteotomy can be performed by the dentist to clearly represent the region of interest. Since with endoscopic technique the region of interest can be clearly seen without osteotomy, it is unnecessary to perform it. Tooth extraction in the old fashioned way leads to partial loss of alveolar wall and thereby to primary atrophy of the alveolar ridge. The conventional technique of osteotomy also leads to bone loss. Both cases of traumatic (iatrogenic) loss of bone must be avoided. Modern dental surgery allows selective removal of teeth under vision without sacrificing bone.

Endoscopically controlled tooth extraction without osteotomy can be performed by occlusal exposure of the retained tooth (3rd molar, Fig. 2), transverse dissection of the crown (Fig. 3), space providing central cavity (Fig. 4), lingual dissection using a diamond round burr (Fig. 5), removal of the distal crown segment (Fig. 6), separation of the roots (Fig. 7), removal of the mesial segment with the implosion technique (Fig. 8) and eventually removal of the distal root (Fig. 9).

Technical requirements are a 2.7 mm, 30° telescope and our new dental support and irrigation sheaths (Fig.1).