Fully Guided Third Molar Tooth Bud Ablation in Pigs.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to selectively ablate the entire volume of targeted third molar (3M) tooth buds in a pig model. This study demonstrates the potential for a less-invasive alternative to contemporary surgical techniques for removal of 3Ms.

Methods: The investigator developed a mandibular split-mouth animal model study design. The model used pigs because the animals' 3M tooth buds are dimensionally similar to those of humans. The study sample consisted of 5 female Yorkshire-cross pigs at 20 weeks of age. The investigator delivered microwave energy thermal doses to thermocoagulate tooth bud tissues inside the bony crypts of targeted 3M tooth buds. Based on the bony crypt dimensions obtained from computed tomography scans of each subject, the microwave thermal dose was predetermined. The mandibles were dissected to visually compare thermocoagulated right-side 3M tooth bud tissues to left-side untreated controls.

Results: All 5 study animals were successfully treated. All 5 fully guided third molar tooth bud ablation (3TBA) procedures resulted in thermocoagulation of the entire volume of targeted 3M tooth bud tissues, with no visual evidence of damage to structures beyond the bony crypt.

Conclusions: The animal model developed for this study enabled the demonstration of a fully guided 3TBA protocol. The animal model and 3TBA procedure employed in this study appear to be appropriate for use in future long-term animal studies designed to demonstrate the efficacy of 3TBA for inducing molar agenesis.