Buccal corticotomy using piezosurgery as a surgical approach for removal of deeply impacted mandibular teeth: An alternative procedure to avoid pitfalls associated with the conventional technique.

Purpose: To describe and evaluate the use of buccal corticotomy (BC) using a piezosurgical approach for the removal of deeply impacted mandibular teeth.

Patients And Methods: The charts of all patients who underwent BC for the removal of impacted mandibular teeth between 2011 and 2019 at the University Hospital of Geneva were reviewed. The primary outcome variables were (1) the indication for the removal of impacted mandibular teeth by BC, (2) complications. Other variables included age, gender, teeth involved, indication for tooth removal and radiological features. Follow-up was at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, and we noted the status of healing and complications, if any.

Results: Twenty-three mandibular-impacted teeth in 6 patients were extracted using BC (8 third molars, 6 second molars, 1 first molar, 4 second premolars and 4 first premolars). The indications for using the BC approach included (1) deeply impacted teeth closely related to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) that runs either lingually or inferior to the dental roots (4 patients); or (2) deeply impacted teeth closely related to the IAN and located anterior to the second molar region (2 patients). No complications were observed during the follow-up period.

Conclusion: The present study showed that the BC approach is a valuable method for removing deeply impacted teeth in close proximity to the mandibular canal and is associated with no complications and sound bone healing.